Broadfording Bridge

The original 1742 bridge was built of stone and hand hewn logs. Bakers Lookout abutted the Conacochaegue creek. The 1742 bridge was built as a pathway to the Indian trading post on the west side of the creek.

The historical significance of the bridge is where the name Broadfording originated as well as being a pathway to the frontier.  Broadfording Wagon Road was the original name of Broadfording Road, named after the bridge broad-fording crossing over the creek.  This was the only bridge over the Conacochaegue Creek until 1817. Mills were constructed on the island under the bridge for hydro-power and taking advantage of the unlimited amounts of oil shale, limestone, timber and iron ore surrounding the area along the banks of the creek.

With Peter Studebaker starting his German technology at Bakers Lookout (making tools for hewning logs, hardware, cutlery, wagons, etc.) opened up his pathway to the west. During the French Indian War, Revolutionary War, and Civil War, this bridge had  historic significance as Braddock crossed the Conacochaegue bridge, Washington crossed the Conachchaegue bridge and used it as a barrier to stop the enemy from crossing,  making them a sitting duck sitting on the bridge.  Bakers Lookout was geographically a perfect setting for a fort for the aforementioned.