Working on the Portage Wooden Bridge was dangerous work. Here is an 1865 item from the Nunda News that demonstrates just how perilous a job repairing the high bridge could be.
| "Mr. Luther Stanton of Portageville, while engaged at work on the high railroad bridge over the river, on Monday, lost his balance and fell, and was of course instantly killed. He was driving bolts with a sledge, and the blow missing the bolt, threw him off his balance. He was an industrious and respectable citizen". |
For more information see our Glimpse of the Portage Bridge
Source
Nunda News, Nunda NY, Saturday, May 13, 1865 page 3