An early postcard from approximately 1901-1907 bears the inscription "This is Lovers Bridge of Croton so they say," referring to what was officially known as the Van Cortlandt Bridge. The photograph captures a small section of the original Long Bridge, constructed during the 1860s to carry the Old Albany Post Road across the mouth of the Croton River near Van Cortlandt Manor.

The manor house appears hidden among trees on the right side of the photograph, while South Riverside Avenue curves away in the distance toward the present-day Shoprite location. An 1871 survey map reveals the bridge's original name and shows that a drawbridge existed at the southern end of the Van Cortlandt Bridge structure. The same survey indicates a channel marked with dotted lines in the river, designating an area for ship passage.

The article references related posts about the bridge's history, including an 1911 accident and 1912 motoring account.