OA Bridge

“Once you get the dust of Horseshoe in your moccasins, you can never get it out.”

HSRAA
A Proud Benefactor to HSR Since 2000.

The old Swinging Bridge over the Octoraro upstream from the old boatdocks.

Octoraro Creek frozen beneath foot bridge built by Lodge members including Richie Richardson and others.

The OA Bridge in 1977.

The Louis Lester OA Bridge was severely damaged by the flood waters of Hurricane Agnes.

OA Workers toil away at fixing the OA Bridge that was devastated by Hurricane Agnes.

The OA Bridge could not stand up to the weight of the heavy snow dumped by a blizzard in 2010. The Bald Eagles nesting nearby would delay the repairs.

The OA bridge from a turtle’s perspective.

The OA Bridge was also damaged during the May 7th, 2014 flood.

The HSR Cope, OA Trail Crew, and A&D Electric work on repairing the OA bridge.

Here are some of the cross pieces used in the OA bridge repairs.

The HSR Cope, OA Trail Crew, and A&D Electric work on repairing the OA bridge.

Here is the schematic used to define the length of the suspenders.

The HSR Cope, OA Trail Crew, and A&D Electric work on repairing the OA bridge.

The remaining OA bridge decking was completed on April 10th, 2016.

The OA bridge now sits several feet higher than before. In this photo, stairs still need to be constructed and the fencing attached.

Here decking is being sent up the bridge for repairs at the other end.

A.J. DiAntonio works on the decking repairs for the OA Bridge.

A.J. DiAntonio and Mike DiDomenico work on OA Bridge decking repairs.

Mike DiDomenico is hoisted above the Octoraro creek to work on decking repairs for the OA Bridge.

A.J. DiAntonio applies decking screws to the OA bridge deck planks.

Planks are completed on the OA Bridge during the repairs of April 2016.

Chris Wilder inspects the platform on the OA Fire Circle side of the OA Bridge.

The Bridge Repairs in 2016 called for some engineering drawings to fully reconstruct most parts of the bridge.

The OA Bridge repairs are completed with the addition of stairs.

Despite getting lots of work done in 2016, the OA Bridge had more decking replaced in 2017.

Hurricane Ida caused significant damage to Camp Horseshoe on August 31st, 2021, including destroying the OA bridge.

Here is a view of the nearly demolished OA bridge platform from the camp side of the bridge, and of course, the missing OA bridge. This was caused by severe rain and flooding as an aftermath of Hurricane Ida.

Here is the old OA bridge without much safety equipment on it, from 1967.

Here is a picture of the Old OA bridge that shows how the bridge was anchored on the OA side- to a tree.

Members of Octoraro Lodge 22 work on removing dead wood and other projects to fix the OA bridge prior to the April 2016 service weekend.

Scouters start to prepare the cable tower to be anchored in the ground.

The tower on the OA fire circle side of the Octoraro Creek starts to get raised!

The cable tower of the OA bridge is almost fully upright with the help of a lot of bodies hoisting it up.

The Cable Tower on the OA fire circle side is in and stable.

This Scouter works on affixing cables to the tower during the OA Bridge construction of 1967.

Here is a look between the two cable towers on both sides of the Octoraro Creek during the OA Bridge Construction of 1967.

This Scouter was working on the cable tower on the OA Bridge in 1968.

Several Scouters work on the OA circle side of the creek and discuss the efforts here.

Several Scouts check out the work from the decking of the OA bridge.

This Scouter hangs off a ladder as he finishes off his cable tower work to repair the OA bridge.

This Scouter preps the materials for the day’s work on the OA bridge.

In order to protect the bridge from wear, these Scouts and Scouters are painting the OA bridge as part of its repairs.

Some Scouters check out the guide cables during the OA bridge repairs in 1968.

Reaching great heights in the service of the OA Bridge, this Scouter is quite dedicated in the early months of 1968.

This Scouter is working on the cable tower as part of the OA bridge repairs in 1968.

As part of the new bridge being built, the cable tower is being anchored before the platform is built.

These Scouts work on securing the cables to the tower in the 1968 OA Bridge construction.

1968 OA Bridge construction – despite the presence of ladders, this looks awfully precarious.

Work continues here on the OA bridge tower on the OA fire circle side.

The bridge tower is now upright in this photo after construction concludes for the day.

This lone worker is on the top of the OA bridge tower securing cables during the 1968 construction.

Here is a view of a Scouter in between the OA bridge tower uprights on the Camp Horseshoe side of the Octoraro creek.

This is the very old OA bridge that had cables for support.

A few folks check out the new OA bridge, installed the year prior.

This woman looks to be traveling hesitantly across the new OA bridge.

Description:

All1960s ConstructionBlack and WhiteDamageRepairsOld Swinging Bridge1937 – Contributed by John B. Rettew IIIThe old Swinging Bridge over the Octoraro upstream from the old boatdocks.OA Foot Bridge1977 – Contributed by John B. Rettew IIIOctoraro Creek frozen beneath foot bridge built by Lodge members including Richie Richardson and others.OA Bridge in Winter1977 – Contributed by John B.…

Created by:

Andrew Coe

Last Updated:

February 2, 2026

Created:

April 22, 2025

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