BY PAT FARNELLI
Correspondent

Local history buffs will celebrate the 100th birthday of the Martins Creek Viaduct also known as the Kingsley Bridge, on Saturday with a chicken barbecue, live music, a ‘Cloud Dance,’ and other outdoor entertainment.

The event, sponsored by the Brooklyn and Harford Historical Societies, begins at noon, and will continue until about 7 p.m.

From noon until 3 p.m., a chicken barbecue dinner will be served at the Kingsley United Methodist Church. Hayrides, games, face painting, music, exhibits,and vendors will be available all day.

Lana Fluck from the Lutheran Church in Hop Bottom’s preschool program has coordinated a variety of children’s games, and Richard McKnight designed a train-themed coloring project.

Hayrides will be taken up to Zick’s Hill, a vantage point offering the best view of the historic Kingsley Bridge.

Historical exhibits will be provided for public view by the Susquehanna County Historical Society and Mary’s Home Furnishings, and a copy of Steamtown historian Patrick McKnight’s presentation about the bridges of the Lackawanna, Delaware and Western Railroad will be available.

Local historian Betty Smith will do a historical presentation as well.

“Our intent is to provide an old-fashioned field day and hometown celebration,” said David Palmer of the Brooklyn Historical Society.

From 2 to 4 p.m., Lana and Jim Fluck will play a variety of music and will serve as Masters of Ceremonies atop the first prize-winning float from the Montrose Fourth of July parade.

At 5 p.m., the Lenoxville Band will begin to play, and at 5:30 p.m., a ‘Cloud Dance’ will be held at the Kingsley Community Church. Judges will choose the prize-winning costumes and dancers, and gift baskets and other prizes will be awarded.

According to historical records, the F.M. Talbot Company and the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western engineers hosted a celebration 100 years ago on the nearly completed rail bed, with a dance called the ‘Cloud Dance.’ The aerial dance event was held atop the viaduct on the evening of Thursday, Sept. 3 at 8 p.m., on the first pier of the giant bridge, under electric lights.

Approximately 200 people from throughout the entire railroad system arrived at the Kingsley station to get to the dance. A huge construction derrick with a carriage basket was used to raise and lower dancers to the dance floor, made by laying wood planks and then a carpet-like surface across the pier. Music was provided by the Oppenheim Orchestra of New York City.

The Martin’s Creek Viaduct is 1,600 feet long and 150 feet above the bed of the creek, and a bit smaller than the now more famous Nicholson Bridge. However, a pamphlet notes: “She was finished first and for a short time was the largest concrete viaduct in the world.”