Wagon Bridge

In the early 1850's, before Reedley became a town, the area was in Mariposa County, and crossing the Kings River meant either risking the river itself or paying to use a ferry. Two ferries operated in the Reedley area, including Poole's trading post and ferry about two miles north of Reedley, run by William Campbell and John Poole from 1851 through 1857; it became known as the place where Major James Savage was murdered by newly elected Tulary County Judge Walter Harvey. In 1908, the Manning Avenue bridge was joined by a new crossing at Olson Avenue. During the flood of January 26, 1914, neither the Manning nor Olson Avenue bridges fared well: the Wagon Bridge survived, but the Olson Bridge washed out completely. After the flood, a three trestle steel bridge was built at Manning Avenue on large steel pillars that still rise from the river bottom. Construction of a reinforced concrete bridge began in 1928, and the Wagon Bridge was removed in 1929.

Reedley, California · United States