The location of the bridge, today known as Mossdale Crossing used to be a popular fishing ground for the Yokut Indians. A sharp bend in the river that slowed down the current had made it the perfect spot for a ferry in service of the trail leading from San Jose Mission to Sutter’s Fort in Sacramento. 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. |
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