Arroyo was a

lumber Lumber is wood that has been processed into dimensional lumber, including beams and planks or boards, a stage in the process of wood production. Lumber is mainly used for construction framing, as well as finishing (floors, wall panels, wi ...

town in western

Pennsylvania Pennsylvania (; ( Pennsylvania Dutch: )), officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a state spanning the Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes regions of the United States. It borders Delaware to its southeast, ...

in the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

that also had an extensive hide tanning industry. It was founded by Thomas Irwin and located in the township of

Spring Creek A spring creek is a type of free flowing river whose name derives from its origin: an underground spring or set of springs which produces sufficient water to consistently feed a unique river. The water flowing in a spring creek may additionally be ...

, on the

Clarion River The Clarion River is a tributary of the Allegheny River, approximately 110 mi (177 km) long, in west central Pennsylvania in the United States. It drains a rugged area of the Allegheny Plateau in the Ohio River watershed, flowing throu ...

, and from Ridgway. The Arroyo Bridge Company was incorporated in April, 1883, with F. Shaffner, E. M. Rogers, C. H. Smith, James B. Wicks and Charles Millen, directors. The object was to bridge the Clarion at Arroyo. The Arroyo Bridge, located in Elk County, was originally constructed in 1882 by the Arroyo Bridge Company, which consisted of a group of local residents who operated it as a toll bridge until 1899. Elk County purchased the bridge and replaced it in 1901, when it became the site for many summer social events and dances. The Arroyo Bridge (1901-2004), a three-span, metal Pratt Truss bridge, long, built by the Nelson and Buchanan company of

Pittsburgh Pittsburgh ( ) is a city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States, and the county seat of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Allegheny County. It is the most populous city in both Allegheny County and Wester ...

and Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, crossed the Clarion River here. This bridge was built to replace the Arroyo bridge company's toll bridge. Squire Webster, the toll master, lived at one end of the bridge and collected the tolls from travelers. A family with a horse and wagon could cross for 10 cents. The bridge was such an important structure in the town that dances and parties were held on its deck during Arroyo's heyday.

External links

* {{coord, 41, 23, 27, N, 78, 52, 49, W, type:city_region:US-PA_source:GNIS-enwiki, display=title Populated places in Elk County, Pennsylvania