During a recent visit to the town of Grantsville, in Western Maryland, I found the historic Casselman River Bridge caged in scaffolding and getting a lot of attention from contractors. The 213-year-old stone arch, part of the Underground Railroad Network to Freedom, is getting some serious work in its old bones. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources and Maryland Department of Transportation are repointing mortar joints, replacing the deck of the bridge, adding a new drainage system, rebuilding parapet walls and reinforcing the stone arch.

Maryland DNR offers a good history of the bridge, as well as a more details about the extent of the work.

Portions of the bridge were dismantled and salvaged, then hauled to a local warehouse, where the stones were cleaned and reshaped in prep for relaying.
Below is a photo I took of the bridge in early spring 2024.

Coming up in December: The fourth and final run of my play, “Baltimore, You Have No Idea.” Tickets now on sale for the December performances. Groups of 10 or more can get a discount on tickets. Visit our website: http://www.youhavenoidea.org

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Published by Dan Rodricks

Dan Rodricks is a former long-time columnist for The Baltimore Sun, winner of numerous national and regional journalism awards, a radio and TV personality, podcaster and fly angler. His narrative memoir, "Father's Day Creek," was published in May 2019 by Apprentice House at Loyola University Maryland.

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