Have you ever wondered what’s at the bottom of a lake? At the bottom of the Youghiogheny River Lake, the answer is an old bridge and the remnants of an old town. In western Pennsylvania, an extended drought has caused water levels in the Youghiogheny River Lake to drop to a historic low, revealing the Great Crossing Bridge—a 200-year-old sandstone structure that typically lies submerged 50 feet below the lake’s surface. This rare emergence of the bridge, provides a unique view of Pennsylvania’s past, with all three of the bridge’s arches visible for the first time since 1998. The Great Crossing Bridge, completed in 1818, was originally built as part of the National Highway, connecting the Potomac and Ohio Rivers and linking Fayette and Somerset counties. This historic roadway, funded by the federal government, marked the beginning of the nation’s transportation network. The bridge was ceremonially opened by President James Monroe, and the nearby town of Somerfield—initially called Smithfield—was later renamed in 1830 after applying for its own post office and discovering another Smithfield already existed. Somerfield thrived until the 1930s, when frequent flooding in the area led to poverty and a subsequent decision to construct a dam. Completed in 1944, the dam ultimately flooded the small valley, submerging the town and its historic bridge. Local officials predict that water levels will return to normal in the coming weeks, as winter snowfall and rainfall replenish the reservoir. For now, though, visitors have a fleeting opportunity to witness a seldom-seen piece of history that once served as a vital link for early American travelers. The post Drought Unveils 200-Year-Old Bridge and Old Town in Pennsylvania appeared first on Anomalien.com.