File:1924 Flood Aerial View Virginia Side.jpg

Summary

This early aviation aerial photo shows the raging Potomac River leaving its banks on the Virginia side of the old bridge. When this photo was taken in May, 1924, the bridge had been ordered closed to all traffic heading to and from Brunswick, which was obviously the right call as it was under deep water.

At the approach, we see the old bridge tollhouse on the left that was destroyed by the historic flood of 1936. The section closest to the bridge access ramp was demolished in 1955 when the new river bridge was opened.

Lovettsville Tollhouse This is the bridge Tollhouse that was destroyed in 1930s by another historic flood. The Lovettsville Tollhouse is about 1/8 mile south on 287.

Lovettsville Tollhouse collected tolls for the original Berlin TPKE built in 1852 between the river and 5-8 mikes further south to Bolington's tollhouse.where another toll road was built.

Doris Kelley Barker Our area the Potomac River is usually calm but I believe it was 1936, I remember seeing it almost at the Square Corner. My grandfather, Pap Kelley had it almost covering his basement on Walnut Street. My Dad had to control him from going into that basement He could have been electrocuted. I remember the tracks were flooded around Dickerson, Md., and my dad drove there to pick up Galinda Baker and other people to bring them home where the train had to stop because of flooding. This picture has the river raging.

(Photo from the Washington Star news clipping via David McIntosh)