Mossdale Crossing Bridge - Lathrop, CA - Lincoln Highway on Waymarking.com

The first ferry was established in 1848. In 1856, William T. Moss a former river boat captain used the ferry on his way to the gold fields. Back then, the ferry charged $1 for a man, $2 for a horse and $8 for a wagon. Moss quickly realized that there was more gold on the way leading to the gold fields that in the Sierra and purchased the ferry on the spot. With most of the local traffic between San Jose, Stockton and Sacramento using his ferry, Moss had a good business going way past the Gold Rush.

The ferry was discontinued in 1900, when the County completed a wooden road bridge. At this time, Moss already owned considerable real estate in the area, including 6.6 miles of riverfront property along the new bridge. Moss turned the riverfront into the "Lower French Camp Turnpike", which in 1913 became part of the Lincoln Highway.

Today, there are no more ships sailing on the San Joaquin River as most of its water is used for irrigation. The gate of the draw bridge has been welded shut. California's Highway 5 runs parallel to Mossdale Crossing on a new concrete bridge, but the old Lincoln Highway bridge is still used for local traffic between the towns of Lathrop and Manteca (see our pictures above).