Hankins Stone Arch Bridge: A Photographic Study
The historic Hankins Stone Arch Bridge is located along Route 94 in the hamlet of Hankins, New York in the Upper Delaware River region. The single arch bridge crosses Hankins Creek just north of its confluence with the Delaware River. The hamlet of Hankins is located approximately 45 miles northwest from Port Jervis, New York, 19 miles southeast of Hancock, New York and 24 miles west from Liberty, New York.
Settlement at Hankins
The Hankins area was first settled in 1780 by Isaac Simmons, who “soon after sold his right of possession to Joseph Brown. Brown sold to Aaron Pierce, who, in 1792, built a saw-mill and small grist-mill . . . About the year 1800, Jonas Lakin came to the place, and subsequently became the owner of a considerable tract of land. In 1821, Lakin sold his tract of land to Elizabeth Pierce, who, with her family, lived on it until about 1833, when she died. In 1834, John Hankins and Luther Appley bought the property, for which they paid $1,451. In 1835, Hankins bought an additional tract of Lucas Elmendorf, and in May, 1839, moved to Fremont with his family.” (Quinlan, James Eldridge. History of Sullivan County. p. 292.)
The Hankins area was considered a good location for farming, with soil well adapted to the production of grass and grain, and for lumbering, with “a great store of valuable timber in its forests.” The location allowed hardy raftsman to run their timber rafts down the Delaware River. It offered good mill sites on its streams and was home to plentiful bluestone quarries.
Hankins Stone Arch Bridge
By the early part of 1900s there was a need for a stretch of river road to link the hamlet of Hankins to the river community of Long Eddy. Previously this connecting road had not been built due to the topography of the Hankins region and the presence of the Erie Railroad. The contract to construct a three-mile road with stone arch bridges over the Hankins Creek and the Basket Creek was given to John Inman. The road, the Hankins Stone Arch Bridge, and the Basket Creek Stone Arch Bridge were constructed in 1905 at a cost of $150.
“Everyone thought Mr. Inman would go broke on that job, but he was an old quarry man and had sized up the rocky point he had to cut through and knew what he was doing. The greater part of the three miles, down past the McDowell farm, was easy grading as roads went in those days. Cutting through the rocks just above Hankins was the main problem, blasting between train times and keeping the track clear. Mr. Inman, it will be recalled, was an expert at blasting and had at the Basket some years previously shot a big rock out of a quarry on this hillside and knocked the end off a house down near McDuffie’s.
On the road job he picked out a block of stone the right distance above the railroad and shot it into the river, and they said they couldn’t find a stone the size of a hen’s egg on the railroad track when he had finished. He left the overhang above the block he shot out, and until Route 97 came along forty years later and widened the road, this place was always called “Hanging Rock.” When Mr. Inman made the cut there he hit a colony of wild bees in a crevice and took out a lot of honey. When the road was finished, the bees came back and stayed there in the deep crevice until Route 97 wrecked them permanently.” (LaValley, Leslie D. “John Inman. Basket Letters – A History of the Basket Brook.” The Hancock Herald. April 25, 1957.)
The Hankins Stone Arch Bridge is approximately 40 feet long, 15 feet wide and is made of local bluestone and Rosendale cement. “The bridge consists of a single round arch springing from the banks of the rock creek. The arch is built of mortared and partially dressed voussoirs approximately two feet in depth. The spandrels and parapets rest directly upon the arch and are built of fieldstone. Cut, bluestone coping stones dress the top of the two parapet walls guarding the roadway. The roadway above the bridge is closed to traffic and largely unpaved. Although maintained for pedestrian use across the bridge, the former East Ridge Road remains only a trace south of the bridge. Wingwalls lining the creek banks downstream of the bridge were rebuilt in 1999 in order to stabilize the bridge and its erosion prone banks. The bridge and its immediate surroundings are currently maintained for passive recreation by Sullivan County and the Town of Fremont.” (National Register of Historic Places.)
With the completion of Route 97 connecting Port Jervis and Hancock in 1939, the Basket Creek Stone Arch Bridge was bypassed, and the Hankins to Long Eddy road began to see less traffic. The Hankins bridge remained in use, connecting Hankins with East Ridge Road (TR 26). The bridge remained a vital creek crossing for local traffic until 1973, when East Ridge Road was rerouted and the bridge was abandoned.
Through the efforts of local citizens, the Hankins Stone Arch Bridge has been restored and is home to a small roadside park. The bridge is now open to pedestrian traffic only. The bridge is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as “a rare and intact example of traditional stone arch bridge construction within the context of Upper Delaware River transportation resources.”
John B. Inman
The Hankins Stone Arch Bridge was constructed by John B. Inman (1845-1907), a local mason, quarryman and carpenter. According to federal and state census records Inman was listed with a range of occupations over the years, including carpenter (1870), farmer (1875, 1880), mill proprietor (1900) and lumberman (1905).
In the 1870s Inman and his family lived in Rock Valley and in 1877 Inman served as the trustee for the local district school. At this time Inman was employed as a wood worker. In the 1880s Inman was “running the old McDuffie sawmill,” and later went into the quarry business, leasing the “Shooting Rock” quarry from Horace McKoon on the hill west of the lower Basket. By the late 1890s Inman “lived in the Lathrop house and opened a quarry near the falls, and around 1900, he moved back to Rock Valley in what was always known as the John Inman house after the Lobdell estate sold it.”
Inman constructed a second stone arch bridge along the road from Hankins to Long Eddy, this one over the Basket Creek. The Basket Creek Stone Arch Bridge was also constructed in 1905. The Basket bridge was put to good use for several decades, “battered by floods, rammed by skidding cars and trucks . . . through the years, all the wood, stone and chemical products of the Basket valleys and hills were hauled over this bridge to the stone dock, or McKoon’s dock, as it was sometimes called.” The Basket Creek Stone Arch Bridge was destroyed around 1942 after a big flood, with most of the stones being washed down into the river.
Inman also constructed the classic, one-story, wood frame Rock Valley School, located in an area known as the Upper Basket in the small hamlet of Rock Valley in the town of Hancock, Delaware County. The school was established in 1885 in order to meet the needs of the growing population associated with local businesses such as logging, milling, bluestone quarrying, agriculture and the wood chemical industry. The historic school remained in continuous operation until 1940s, when it closed due to school district consolidation. In 1953 the school building was deeded to the Rock Valley Cemetery Association, which has maintained the school ever since. The Rock Valley School is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
John Inman died suddenly at Rock Valley, New York at 61 years of age on February 2, 1907. Funeral services were held at the Rock Valley Church, with Reverend Regnal officiating. He was survived by his widow Margaret (Garrison) Inman; four sons, Clarence, James, John and Frank; and one daughter, Mrs. Bloom.
John Hankins
The historic Hankins Stone Arch Bridge and the creek it spans are named in honor of John Hankins (1803-1847), who established the first permanent settlement here in 1835 with a home, store, sawmill and blacksmith’s shop. As part of his business, he rafted large amounts of lumber down the Delaware River. Hankins later served as a Justice of Peace and then Supervisor of the town of Callicoon from 1844 to 1847. In 1851 the Erie Railroad named the local stop as Hankins Station. Hankins was a descendant of a soldier who served under General George Washington in the American Revolution, and was notably with the Continental Army when they crossed the Delaware.
John Hankins constructed the Hankins District No. 1 Schoolhouse in 1845. The school is located on County Highway 132, which continues downhill toward the commercial center of the hamlet, Route 97, the railroad tracks and the river. “He [Hankins] built the schoolhouse for the community and later donated the land and building to be used as a church for all denominations. After the local religious groups built their own churches, it continued to be used as a school. A new school was later built and this schoolhouse became the Hankins Fire House. The Fire Department has recently sold the building to a private owner with the stipulation that the bell shall remain with the building.” The school building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
John Hankins was born on September 2, 1803, the son of Ralph Hankins (1776-1863) and Mary (Dougherty) Hankins. He was born and raised in Pike County, Pennsylvania. James Eldridge Quinlan in his History of Sullivan County wrote in detail of John Hankins and the hamlet named for him. “Previous to 1839, Mr. Hankins had resided in the town of Damascus, in the State of Pennsylvania, where he married Susan, a daughter of Moses Thomas, 3d. Then he removed to Fremont, he passed over the “State-road,” on the west side of the river. The New York and Erie Railroad Company had accomplished considerable in grading their road; but had suspended work in 1837. Mr. Hankins attempted to make a highway of their track, but after rendering about three miles passable, gave up the job.
For several years ingress and egress were difficult. To attend town-meeting and vote at the fall-elections, he was obliged to follow a line of marked trees to Liberty, or travel over the State-road to the bridge at Cochecton, and from thence to Liberty by the way of Bethel. Sometimes, however, when the water was low, he followed the beach of the river on horseback as far as Cochecton. As the ford near his residence was occasionally impracticable, he built a scow, and crossed the river in it; but when there was a flood, it was not safe to cross in any manner, and he was practically cut off from the outside world.
It was been represented that John Hankins was the pioneer setter at Hankins Depot;* [See French’s Gazetteer] yet, when he came, he found on his place an old frame-house, a saw-mill, and land which had been occupied and tilled many years. He also found a sycamore tree which was nine feet in diameter. The latter was hollow, and the cavity was larger than some bed-rooms. It is said that a man could ride into it astride of a horse. Until about 1865, this tree was used as a substitute for a smoke-house.
Mr. Hankins was a man of action. Exclusive of those who lived in Pennsylvania, his only neighbors were at Long Eddy and Long pond; yet during the first year of his residence, he started a store and built a blacksmith-shop. He also built a handsome residence for his family, and in 1847, the second saw-mill erected on his land. He also became prominent as a local politician, and, notwithstanding his isolated position, was one of the first Justices of the Peace, and the second Supervisor of the town of Callicoon. He was elected to the latter office repeatedly, and at one time, in conjunction with Matthew Brown, controlled the Board of Supervisors.
Mr. Hankins did not live until the railroad was completed as far as Hankins creek. He was a man of forcible and energetic character – a warm friend and an ardent enemy – exalted in prosperity and depressed when his surroundings were unfavorable. In the summer of 1847, he suffered from a variety of small annoyances, and on the 17th of September was found dead on the road to Callicoon, about a quarter mile from his house, under circumstances which led to the belief that his life was cut short by his own hand.” (Quinlan, James Eldridge. History of Sullivan County. pp. 292-293.)
After Hankins’ death on September 17, 1847, rumors started that he had been shot and murdered by a contractor and engineer from the railroad. However, this proved false, as a coroner’s jury was organized, and they “spent all the afternoon and evening in a thorough and careful examination of the facts in relation to his death.” After the investigation, the jury offered their own findings. “The jury unanimously rendered a verdict that he [Hankins] killed himself by cutting his throat on the right side, having severed a jugular vein and an artery, it is supposed with a razor. There does not appear to have been any particular cause for his committing the rash deed, but a variety of small causes which had a tendency to render him unhappy, and which prompted him to suddenly commit the rash act. It is thought the resolution to do it had not long been taken before it was put in execution. He was found about one-fourth of a mile up the road leading from his house to the Callicoon Settlement. He committed the act in the afternoon of Friday. The finding of the jury was perfectly satisfactory to the family.” (“Suicide of John Hankins.” Republican Watchman. September 21, 1847.)
Although it is unclear if it is related to his passing, beginning in February 1847 Hankins advertised weekly in the local newspaper that much of his property was for sale. There does not seem to have been much interest in the property as the advertisements continued throughout the year. Even if the sale of his home and property was unrelated to his suicide, the advertisements still provide great insight to his land and possessions.
“Highly interesting to lumbermen, tanners, farmers, & c. A RARE OPPORTUNITY! 1173 Acres of Valuable Land For Sale! Situated in the Hardenbergh patent, great lot 2, in division 23, 24 and 25, containing about 1173 acres of land, with a good farm house well finished from cellar to garret, three small frame houses which are comfortable dwellings for small families, 2 saw mills, a grist mill, store house, a blacksmith shop with tools, a large frame barn, with a shed or cow house 64 b 24 ft., 16 ft. posts, all well finished, a good cider mill with screws, and three first rate orchards. On the lot, there is an abundance of timber – hemlock, maple, white ash, beech, birch, chestnut and some cherry. As a lumbering establishment it is one of the best of the kind in Sullivan County. The N. Y. & Erie Railroad will run through it, and 2 public roads lead to it, one from the town of Rockland and the other from Callicoon settlement. A railroad depot will probably be established on it, as it is 13 miles from Cochecton. It is well calculated for the tanning business, and has an abundance of water power. Any person wishing to purchase such a property will do well to call and examine for themselves. A liberal time for payment will be given. John Hankins, Callicoon, Feb. 18, 1847.” (Republican Watchman. March 16, 1847.)
John Hankins married Susan Thomas (1811-1885) on March 4, 1830 at her parents’ homestead, two miles south of Damascus, Pennsylvania. Susan was the daughter of Moses Thomas III (1777-1857) and Rebecca Thomas (1782-1841), and a granddaughter of Moses Thomas II, who was killed in 1779 during the American Revolution at the Battle of Minisink Ford. John and Susan had eight children together, including Lucas Wurtz (1831-1910), Mary (1833-1907), Rebecca Thomas (1835-1918), Angeline Elizabeth (1838-1903), Susan Abigail (1841-1917), John Ralph (1843-1905), William Thomas (1845-1847) and Samuel Howard (1848-1917).
After the death of her husband in 1947, Susan continued to raise her children at the village of Hankins. The Commemorative Biographical Record of Northeastern Pennsylvania, published in 1900, offered many details about the children of John and Susan Hankins.
(1) Lucas W. . . . Owner and proprietor of a beautiful summer resort in Manchester township, Wayne County.
(2) Mary, born in Sullivan County, N.Y., in October, 1833, married Col. Zalman Main, of Sullivan County, N.Y., who during the Civil war raised a company in Indiana, and for bravery and valor on the field was promoted to the rank of colonel, having command of an Indiana regiment. He died in 1866, leaving a wife and one child, Florence E., who now resides in Binghamton, N.Y.
(3) Rebecca T., born in Sullivan County, N.Y., is a well-educated woman, was for a number of years a successfully teacher in the public schools, and is now a resident of Binghamton.
(4) Angie E., born in Damascus township, Wayne County, married Capt. C. A. Johnson, of the regular army, who died in 1894, at Washington, D. C., and she now makes her home at Binghamton.
(5) Susan A., born in Hankins, N. Y., in 1841, married David Bush, of California, born in Sullivan County, and they located in Susquehanna, Penn., where he was connected with the Adams Express Company for a number of years, or until his health failed. He died at his home in that place in 1889, leaving a wife, now a resident of Binghamton; one son, Edward, a civil engineer residing in Rome, N. Y., and one daughter, Jessie, who died at the age of sixteen years.
(6) John R., born in Hankins, was educated in the New York schools, and when a young man engaged in mercantile business at Little Equinunk, Wayne County. Subsequently he carried on business near Owego, N. Y., for a number of years, but now has charge of his brother’s wholesale tobacco trade, in Binghamton, where he makes his home. He married Emma Buckley, of Fremont Center, Sullivan County, N. Y., and had two daughters – Susan, now the wife of Dr. W. Leonard, of Tully, N. Y.; and Bertha, who died in childhood.
(7) Willie died when a child.
(8) Samuel H., born in Hankins, has a large wholesale tobacco establishment in Binghamton, and is one of the leading business men of that place. He married Lillian Wait, of Hollisterville, Wayne Co., Penn., and has two children, Walter and Winifred.” (Commemorative Biographical Record of Northeastern Pennsylvania. Chicago: J.H. Beers & Co., 1900. pp. 466-467.)
Hankins and his wife Susan, along with two of their sons, John and William, are all buried at Overlook Cemetery at Damascus, Pennsylvania.
