#onthisday in 1894, the community celebrated the “Free Bridge jubilation!”. It seems that the residents in these parts were sick of paying a toll to cross the Hudson River. So they worked real hard with the efforts of Assemblyman Hobbie and got a law passed to build a free bridge across the Hudson River. Today, we know the bridge as the Dix Bridge which is in Hudson Crossing Park. THE FREE BRIDGE VICTORY! Appropriately Celebrated on Saturday Evening–Great Crowds, Speeches, Illuminations, and Music. When it was first announced that the Free Bridge jubilation had been postponed until Saturday evening. some thought that the enthusiasm of the people would die out and that the celebration would be tame. But they reckoned without knowledge. The people had struggled too hard for this victory to give up so easily, and so soon lose their enthusiasm. Promptly at eight o’clock P.M. the Victory Cornet band. which had been secured by the committee for the occasion marched to the residence of Chas. H. McNaughton, where Hon. W. R. Hobbie and wife were guests, and the procession formed with the distinguished guests and their host and hostess in the first carriage . The column marched to the school house over the route published in the STANDARD of last week. Great crowds of enthusiastic people swarmed the roads and sidewalks. and the march to the school house was one constant ovation. the many bonfires, pyrotechnics, colored lights and illuminations all combined to make a very brilliant scene long to be remembered. On reaching the school house the citizens’ committee took their places upon the platform and Counselor Ostrander announced that the following oflicers had been appointed for the evening: To read more about the celebration follow this link – https://ift.tt/K78PpaX The Free or Dix Bridge still stands today. There seems to be a few stories about it and the dedication . So you can learn more about it here
Historian at Saratoga - Town of Saratoga 