The Frankfort Bridge Company was originally formed in 1799 to build a span across the Kentucky River in Frankfort. The initial effort to span the river failed and the legislature repealed the charter and awarded it to John Pope, with authorization to fix a toll for crossing. This bridge effort also failed. In 1810, the legislature incorporated a new Frankfort Bridge Company, which had the power to sell stock to raise money for a bridge at the end of St. Clair Street. The law specified that the "Bridge shall not contain more than one pier in the channel of the river and which pier shall not be less than sixty feet high from it's foundation." The bridge was completed in 1816. During the 1830's, the bridge began to deteriorate. In July 1834, while the bridge was undergoing extensive repair, the middle span collapsed, requiring the bridge to be replaced. This project was completed in December of 1835. Eight days after the bridge reopened, the entire span fell into the river, killing two people. Work began on a new bridge in 1841, but wasn't completed until 1847. [Kramer, Carl E., Capitol on Kentucky: A Two Hundred Year History of Frankfort and Franklin County; Historic Frankfort, Inc., c. 1986.]
From the description of Mason Brown letter : [ca. 1834]. (Kentucky Historical Society). WorldCat record id: 36844094
