Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge Images

by Greg Kelly · Published May 11, 2023 · Updated May 23, 2023

A link between two distinct communities …

Toll to pay

A total of five bridges have connected the boroughs of Sea Bright and Rumson over the past 150 years. A sixth is now being constructed at a nine-figure cost.

The Jumping Point Draw Bridge — the very first Shrewbury River span — opened in 1872. The 340-foot wooden drawbridge linked Ocean Avenue with Rumson Road. That structure was replaced in 1881 by a $36,700 iron bridge designed by Wilson Brothers & Company of Philadelphia and built by the Delaware Bridge Company. It stood until 1900 and required a toll to pass — a penny for a walker, a nickle for a one-horse coach and a dime for a two-horse coach. William Rodney, Sr. was the first bridge tender.

A third temporary wooden bridge lasted just one year. In June 1901, a new 660-foot steel, steam-powered swing-bridge opened with a celebratory parade and speeches. Wynkoop & Braly Company was the designer and American Bridge Company of NY was the builder. The cost was $65,000.

Who should the new bridge be named for? Suggestions — HERE

In September 1949, the borough paid $7,500 to acquire old railroad land to be used as access for a new Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge. The existing double-leaf bascule bridge opened in March 1950. It cost $1.4 million to build; Morris Goodkind was the designer and Ole Hansen & Sons, Inc. were the builders. According to a 1950 dedication plaque, the bridge is officially the “Shrewsbury River Bridge.” In the late 1940s, the road was re-designated as a state highway, NJ Route 36.

In November 2021, ground was broken for a new county drawbridge; the completion date is Spring 2024. The full project cost will reach $135 million — nearly all paid for by the federal government. Hardesty & Hanover of New York did the design work and Richard E. Pierson Construction Company of Pilesgrove, NJ is the builder.

• Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge Images — HERE

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, 1960s.

Packer’s Real Estate Exchange office, 1905. The Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge is visible in the foreground and the Sea Bright Railroad Station is in the background. P. Hall Packer was the first mayor of Sea Bright.

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, February 2023 (StansPhotos).

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge at dusk, February 2023 (Brigid Trovato Photo).

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, 1950s.

New Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge design proposal, 2020 — MORE INFO. The new county bridge will be wider — more welcoming to walkers and bikers. It will continue to open for passing boats.

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, 2022.

Crossing over the Rumson Bridge heading east into Sea Bright, 1906.

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, 1905.

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, 2019.

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, 1980s.

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, 2020.

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge aerial image, January 2023 (Brian Allen Photo).

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, 1907.

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge with toll booth, 1890s. The bridge first opened in 1881 and was replaced in 1901.

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, 2022 (R-FH Retro Photo).

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, 1916. Seen from the corner of Ocean Avenue and Rumson Road looking west at the bridge.

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, December 2022 (StansPhotos).

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, 1885.

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, 1930s.

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, 1905.

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, 1906. Back then the bridge tender was paid $60 per month.

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge with steamship passing through, 1910s.

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, 1952.

New Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge under construction, October 2022 (Nick Lenczyk Photo).

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge area sketch, 1887.

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, 1951.

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, 1909. The bridge lasted from 1901 to 1950.

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge with toll booth, 1903.

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge aerial image, August 2022 (StansPhotos). The new river crossing is well underway to the south.

Rumson-Sea Bright bridge is beyond a densely packed western Sea Bright, 2022.

Rumson-Sea Bright aerial image, 2018.

Rumson-Sea Bright area map, 1889.

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, 1940s.

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, 1901. Built by the American Bridge Company of NY for about $65,000 — around the time of its opening.

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge nearing completion, 1949. The $1.4 million span was designed by Morris Goodkind, a notable civil engineer, and built by Ole Hansen & Sons. The borough spent $45,500 to acquire land around the bridge necessary for construction.

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge (l) under construction, 1949 (Dorn’s Photo). The old 1901 span is to the south.

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, 2022.

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge amidst the two cranes that will built the new $130 million bridge, July 2022.

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, June 2022.

SS Little Silver near the Rumson-Sea Bright bridge, 1918.

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, 1905.

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, Feb. 2022. Officially it’s the “Shrewsbury River Bridge.”

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge with steamship Wilbur Heisley passing through, 1885.

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, Summer 2021 (Robert Tyler Photo).

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, 1910s.

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge opens for boat traffic, December 2021.

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, November 2021.

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge (at top), November 2021.

“Reflection of an Old Friend, Sea Bright Bridge 2021” by Mary Connell Gaynor.

New Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge ceremonial ground-breaking, November 2021.

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge (r) aerial image, 1920s.

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, early 1900s (Brown Brothers Photo). The image is taken from Packer’s Railroad Park which was located where the former Dunkin’ Donuts is today. This “swing-bridge” opened in June 1901 and lasted 50 years.

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, 1905.

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge postcard, early 1900s.

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge seen from Seabright Beach Club, 2016.

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, June 2021 (Robert Tyler Photo).

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge painting by Mary Connell Gaynor.

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, early 1900s. View is from Rumson into SB.

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge and beach clubs, 2021 (AfterRain Photo).

Just over the Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge at 1 Rumson Road was the home of James Allgor, who put up a “Spite Fence” so travelers could see his “socialist rants,” 1911. He was placed in a mental institution in 1915.

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge entrance, 2021.

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge as the day dawns, 2021.

Sea Bright aerial image, 1968.

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, 2021.

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, 1901.

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, 2021 (Robert Tyler Breckenridge Photo).

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, 2021.

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, 1930s.

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge — old (r) and new (l), 1949.

Jumping Point Draw Bridge, late 1880s. The first water link between Rumson and Sea Bright.

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, 2019 (Frank E. Snead Photo).

Steamship passes through the Rumson-Sea Bright swing bridge, early 1900s.

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, 2020.

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge open, 2020.

Sea Bright looking south, 2020 (StansPhotos).

SB looking north, 2020 (StansPhotos).

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge looking south, 2019.

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge aerial image, 2019.

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, 2017.

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, 2000s.

First car to cross the new Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, driven by SB Councilman Ralph Lawrence, 1951.

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, 2019. Painting by Joe Bergholm.

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, early 1950s.

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge looking into Rumson, 1930s.

Sea Bright aerial image looking south, 1930s.

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge under construction, early 1950s.

Sea Bright aerial image, 1930s.

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, early 1900s.

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, 1875.

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge area sketch, 1887.

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge looking into Rumson, early 1900s.

View into Rumson from the bridge, early 1900s.

Sketch proposal for new Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, 1900. The builder was the American Bridge Company.

Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, early 1900s.

“Spite Fence” on the Rumson side of the bridge, 1910. The property was owned by James M. Allgor, who ended up in the state insane asylum in Trenton. He died in 1934.