This is a picture of the Brown Bridge under construction in February of 1900. The legendary Brown Bridge is the focal point of the local bridges at the moment, but Princeton has seen many other bridges come and go through it’s history. The current wooden bridge crossing the Tulameen River at the head of Bridge Street was constructed in 1930 and was only meant to last 30 years. Indeed, it was meant to come down when the “Silver Bridge” on Highway 5A was opened in 1964. Public sentiment prevailed in prolonging it’s service. The version of the bridge pictured here was built in 1900 and it replaced a crude wooden bridge, which is rumored to have been the third crossing facility in that location. The Similkameen Star mentions that as this 1900 bridge was being built, traffic was diverted to the “Allison Bridge”. This wagon bridge crossed the Similkameen River at the approximate location of Taylor Mill Road. Close by, at the south end of the Municipal Camp Grounds can be seen pilings on either side of the river for another bridge, the spur line of the V.V.E. railroad to the Cement Plant. Of course, we have all seen the post cards showing the bridge that was burned in the water in 1948. This was the abandoned Similkameen River crossing for the V.V.E. at the foot of Bridge Street. It was knocked off of its supports by flood waters and was burned to prevent it floating downstream and damaging other crossings. This was eventually replaced by the “Blue Bridge” which served the Highway towards the east. In the same vicinity, there were two wagon bridges that were inline with Bridge Street. The newer one was completed in 1900 just before construction of the Tulameen crossing. This bridge served as the link to the Copper Mountain Road (since rerouted). Yet another defunct crossing was the one near the 1000 foot tunnel. It veered off to the left when approaching the tunnel and served the coal fired electrical generation plant just on the other side, on its way to Allenby and Copper Mountain. This was a critical link during World War Two and its said that men and materials were kept available in Penticton to ensure the uninterrupted supply of copper. Emilio Ceccon was the section man responsible for this link and so begins the long story of the Ceccon family’s service to this town. But that’s another story.