Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge Images
Linking 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 river crossing is now being constructed at a nine-figure cost.
The very first Shrewbury River span — the Jumping Point Draw Bridge — was opened in 1870. The 340-foot-long, wooden bridge linked Ocean Avenue with Rumson Road. Milfin Paul had acquired 100 acres of land between the two water bodies to build the crossing. 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 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 was the first bridge tender. Monmouth County would end the toll-collections by buying the bridge for $30,000. A third temporary wooden bridge lasted just one year.
In June 1901, a new steel, steam-powered, swing-bridge opened with a celebratory parade, speeches and cannon salute. Wynkoop & Braly Company was the designer and American Bridge Company of NY was the builder. At 660-foot-long, the cost was $65,000. Rumson Road millionaire Edward Kemp was an influential supporter of the bridge (his 1902 death left an estate with an ’25 equivalent of $350+ million).
Who should the new bridge be named for? Suggestions — HERE
In September 1949, the borough paid $7,500 to acquire old railroad property for better access to a new Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge. The current double-leaf bascule bridge opened in March 1950. It cost $1.5 million; Morris Goodkind was the designer and Ole Hansen & Sons was the builder. According to a 1950 dedication plaque, the bridge is officially the “Shrewsbury River Bridge.” In the 1940s, Ocean Avenue 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 2025. Demolition of the old bridge to the north will take 6 months. Total project costs will reach $135 million — nearly all paid for by the federal government. Hardesty & Hanover of New York did the design work and R. E. Pierson Construction Company of Pilesgrove, NJ is the builder.
The new drawbridge must continue to open for marine traffic. Depending on the tides, clearance for boats under the current bridge is between 15 and 20 feet. That isn’t expect to change much.
• Highlands-Sea Bright Bridge Images — HERE
Coming Soon — Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge design proposal, 2020. The new $135 million county bridge will be wider; more welcoming to walkers and bikers. It will continue to open for passing boats — MORE INFO.
By the Bridge — “Rail Road Park” and the P. Hall Packer Real Estate Exchange office at Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, August 1911. Note the Sea Bright rail station in the background.
Seaside Shot — Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, early 1900s.
Looking West — Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, early 1900s.
Reflections — Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, 1950s.
Light Traffic — Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, 1916. Looking west on Ocean Avenue toward the bridge and Rumson beyond.
Getting There — Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge under construction, November 2024 (Nick Lenczyk Photo).
Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge upon its opening, February 1951.
Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, late 1940s. The P House is at right along the ocean.
Rumson-Sea Bright, 1906. Looking east toward the ocean.
Rumson-Sea Bright drawbridge, 1905.
Big Picture — Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge aerial image, 2018.
Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge with toll booth, 1903.
Over the River — Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge on its opening, 1881 (Ed Pomphrey Photo).
Another Day — Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge at dawn, 2021.
The Stretch — Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, 2019. It has endured 75 years of traffic.
Old Stuff — Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, 1906.
Just One Look — Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge aerial image, March 2024 (Brain Allen Photo).
Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge under construction, 1948 (Ed Pomphrey Photo).
Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge under construction, October 1950.
Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge under construction, October 1950.
Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge under construction, October 1950.
Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, 1949.
Side-by-Side — Rumson-Sea Bright Bridges, old and new, February 2024 (Nick Lenczyk Photo).
Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, 2019.
Welcome to Sea Bright — Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, 2019 (Frank E. Snead Photo).
Open Up — Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, Summer 2021 (Alyssa Isoldi Scheffer Photo). The Seabright Beach Club is in the background. The borough’s longest operating private beach club marks 130 summer seasons this year.
Early On — Jumping Point Draw Bridge, 1870s. The first water link between Rumson and Sea Bright.
Simpler Time — Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, 1901.
Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, late-1940s.
Over All — Sea Bright aerial image, 1920.
Above All — Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge area, 1887 sketch.
Open Up — Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, 2020.
All New — Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge under construction, Summer 1950.
Horse Play — Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge. New York Daily Tribune, July 1902.
Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge seen from Monmouth Beach, Fall 2023 (Helen McAndrew Photo).
Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge at dawn, Fall 2023.
Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge dusk, September 2023.
Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge under construction, July 2023 (Nick Lenczyk Photo).
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 at dusk, February 2023 (Brigid Trovato Photo).
Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, 1950s.
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, 1885.
Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, 1930s.
Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, 1905.
Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge with steamship passing through, 1910s. Back then the bridge tender was paid $60 per month.
Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, 1952.
New Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge under construction, October 2022 (Nick Lenczyk Photo).
New Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge under construction, October 2022 (Nick Lenczyk Photo).
Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, 1909. The bridge lasted from 1901 to 1950.
Rumson-Sea Bright bridge is beyond a densely packed western Sea Bright, 2022.
Rumson-Sea Bright area map, 1889.
Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, 1940s.
Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, 1901. 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, 1950 (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 (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).
Trouble-Maker — 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,” 1910. He was placed in a mental institution in 1915.
More Details — The James Allgor fence case, Newark-Star Eagle, September 1910.
Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge entrance, 2021.
Sea Bright aerial image, 1968.
Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, 2021.
Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, 2021 (Robert Tyler Breckenridge Photo).
Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, 2021.
Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, 1930s.
Steamship passes through the Rumson-Sea Bright swing bridge, early 1900s.
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 looking into Rumson, early 1900s.
View into Rumson from the bridge, 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.
Rumson-Sea Bright iron toll bridge, 1885.
Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, 1914. Opened in 1901; closed in 1950.
Rumson-Sea Bright iron toll bridge, 1889.
Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge, 1901. Temporary crossing lasted one year.
Sanborn Maps of NJ: Sea Bright, 1890.
Asbury Park Press story, Sept. 1900.
“Leap” into Sea Bright history. Plaque is located near the Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge.
