The utter obstruction to the navigation of the river thus introduced continued until 1838, when, as we shall see, it was forcibly removed by the enterprise and courage of a number of citizens of Westchester, and the mischievous and unwarranted interference with tin1 natural function of the Harlem River as a public waterway was brought to an end. Macomb's Dam was the only absolute barrier to the progress of vessels coming up the Harlem River. But it had a rival in Coles's Bridge, tin1 site of the present Third Avenue Bridge -- which indeed antedated it. In 1790 the legislature granted to Lewis Morris the right to construct a bridge from Harlem to Morrisania, which was 1 This

mill

remained

standing

until

1S56.

It

is shown in the cut on p. 145.

HISTORY

WESTCHESTER

COUNTY

to be provided with a draw. This privilege Morris assigned to John B. Coles, who in 1795 procured a new legislative grant, authorizing him to build a dam across the Harlem River which was to serve the double purpose of a foundation for a bridge and a means for furnishing power to grist and other mills; but in this grant also it was stipulated that the free navigation of the river should be preserved through a suitable opening. Under the provisions of the act of 1795 and subsequent legislation, Coles not only built the Harlem Bridge, but constructed a road leading from it to West Farms and Eastchester. Coles's Bridge was provided with a draw, which, however, was very narrow. This structure continued in use until about 1855, when it was replaced by the (old) Third Avenue Bridge. Previously to the construction of Coles's Bridge there were two bridges connecting Manhattan Island with the main land, both being across Spuyten Duyvil Creek -- the King's Bridge, erected in 1G94 by Frederick Philipse, who, with his successors, collected tolls from all using it, and the Farmers' or Dyckman's Bridge, built some years before the Revolution by public subscription.