Name/Title
Scale Model Van Vlack Bridge built by Ben BerminghamEntry/Object ID
2005.54.1Description
Scale model of the Van Vlack Bridge by Ben BerminghamContext
John Barrett Van Vlack arrived in the area circa 1869 when he purchased 69 acres of land and began building the Village of Van Vlack. Van Vlack was a commercial fisherman, built a shingle mill, ran a general store and became the first postmaster of the Van Vlack Post Office. A wooden bridge was built in 1872 with a grant in the amount of $400 from the County of Simcoe. The bridge was located approximately the end of Beck Street at River Road East and spanned across approximately to where the Park 1 Gate House entrance is located. This is also near the location where the Allistonia Hotel was located. By 1896, about 70 people lived in the village that included a local school and the Presbyterian Church opened in 1894. In the late 1800's, a bunkhouse was erected on the north bank of the Nottawasaga River to accommodate workers from the shingle mill and lumber mill across the river. The wooden bridge allowed workers to cross the river and provided residents and visitors access to the beachfront which at the time was the main road in the area. The bridge was operational until 1909 when due to deterioration of the wooden bridge, a steel bridge was constructed a few hundred feet west of the original bridge in the location where the current Main Street bridge is located.
The scale model of the Van Vlack Bridge, built by Ben Bermingham, was originally built as part of a Christmas float for the Ganaraska Hiking Club and then donated to the Archives by Mr. Bermingham.Acquisition
Accession
2005.54Source or Donor
Ben BerminghamAcquisition Method
GiftDimensions
Dimension Description
Height including wood base is 6", wood base width is 4.5", wood base length is 40"
Dimensions listed below do not include base.Height
5-1/4 inWidth
4 inLength
36-1/2 in
