SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION No. 41

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

INTRODUCED MARCH 3, 1997

By Senator SINGER

A Joint Resolution designating the Interstate Highway Route 295 bridge spanning the mouth of Crosswicks Creek in Bordentown, Burlington County as the "Thomas Paine Bridge."

Whereas, Thomas Paine is one of the intellectual leaders of the American Revolution, most notably as the author of the 1776 pamphlet "Common Sense," calling for American independence, which was widely distributed and had a profound influence on public opinion in America; and

Whereas, After the publication of "Common Sense," Thomas Paine continued to inspire and encourage American patriots during the Revolutionary War in a series of pamphlets called "The Crisis;" and

Whereas, Thomas Paine considered Bordentown his home, living in a small, two-storied house at Two West Church Street, on the corner of Farnsworth Avenue, and owning a tract of land on the opposite bank of the Crosswicks Creek across from the Bordentown Hilltop, approximately where the Interstate Highway Route 295 scenic overlook is located today; and

Whereas, Historical research shows that Thomas Paine invented the single-span iron bridge while he resided in Bordentown, and that he worked on his invention on the Bordentown Hilltop at Colonel Kirkbride's house overlooking the Crosswicks Creek where the Interstate Highway Route 295 bridge can be seen today; and

Whereas, Thomas Paine wrote to Benjamin Franklin in a June 6, 1786 letter concerning the progress of his invention of the single-span bridge, stating "...Mr. Hall, who has been with me at Bordentown, and has done the chief share of the working part, for we have done the whole ourselves," and he also wrote in a letter to Congress, dated Winter 1802, that "...In 1786, I made three models, partly at Philadelphia, but mostly at Bordentown in the State of New Jersey;" and

Whereas, There is apparently no other bridge bearing Thomas Paine's name, it is altogether fitting and proper that the State of New Jersey recognize Thomas Paine, the inventor of the single-span iron bridge and resident of Bordentown, by naming the Interstate Highway Route 295 bridge spanning the mouth of Crosswicks Creek in Bordentown, Burlington County as the "Thomas Paine Bridge;" now, therefore,

    Be It Resolved by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

    1. The Interstate Highway Route 295 bridge spanning the mouth of Crosswicks Creek in Bordentown, Burlington County is hereby designated as the "Thomas Paine Bridge."

    2. The Commissioner of Transportation is authorized to erect appropriate signs bearing that name.

    3. This joint resolution shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

    This joint resolution designates the Interstate Highway Route 295 bridge spanning the mouth of Crosswicks Creek in Bordentown, Burlington County as the "Thomas Paine Bridge." The bill authorizes the Commissioner of Transportation to erect appropriate signs bearing that name.

Designates Interstate Highway Route 295 bridge located in Bordentown, Burlington County as the "Thomas Paine Bridge."