Bridge of Flowers (bridge) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bridge of Flowers |
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Bridge of Flowers
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| Coordinates | 42°36′14.67″N 72°44′25.82″W / 42.6040750°N 72.7405056°W |
| Carries | pedestrians |
| Crosses | Deerfield River |
| Locale | Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts |
| Maintained by | Shelburne Falls Area Women's Club |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Arch bridge |
| Total length | 400 ft (121 m) |
| Width | 18 ft (5 m) |
| History | |
| Designer | Edward S. Shaw |
| Construction begin | 1907 |
| Opened | 1908 |
| Closed | 1927 |
The Bridge of Flowers is a unique and beautiful bridge in Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts. It connects the towns of Shelburne and Buckland. This special footbridge was once a trolley bridge. Now, it's covered in a vibrant garden of flowers! You can visit this flowery bridge between April and October each year.
Contents
The Bridge's First Life: A Trolley Path
The Bridge of Flowers was built in 1908. It cost about $20,000 to build. The Shelburne Falls and Colrain Street Railway company built it. They needed a strong bridge to move heavy goods. This allowed them to pick up and drop off freight directly from trains. The goods could then be taken to Colrain.
This new concrete bridge was very important. Another nearby bridge, the Iron Bridge, could only hold 20 tons. The Iron Bridge was built in 1890 and is still used by cars today. The ends of both bridges are very close to each other in Buckland.
Over time, more and more people started using cars and trucks. Trucks became the main way to move goods. Because of this, the trolley company went out of business in 1927. The story of this railway is kept alive at the Shelburne Falls Trolley Museum.
From Trolley to Flowers: A Beautiful Transformation
After the trolley company closed, the bridge was no longer used. It started to get covered in weeds. In 1929, a local woman named Antoinette Burnham had a brilliant idea. She suggested turning the old bridge into a garden!
The community liked her idea. The bridge couldn't be torn down because it carried a water main. This pipe brought water to both towns. So, turning it into a garden was a perfect solution. The Shelburne Woman's Club took on the project in 1928.
In 1929, they brought 80 loads of rich soil (called loam) and lots of fertilizer to the bridge. Several women's clubs in town helped raise $1,000 for the project.
Keeping the Garden Beautiful
By 1975, people noticed the bridge was starting to show its age. Its structure was getting old. In 1981, money was raised to study the bridge's condition. The study showed that it needed about $580,000 worth of repairs.
Different groups worked together to raise the money. Repairs started on May 2, 1983. During this time, every plant was carefully removed and looked after by people in their homes. The repairs also replaced the 8-inch water pipe. This pipe carries up to half a million gallons of water every day! The bridge now has about two and a half feet of soil over its arches. It has nine feet of soil at the piers (the supports).
On August 28, 2011, heavy rain from Hurricane Irene caused the Deerfield River to flood. The water rose and covered the Bridge of Flowers. But the bridge survived and continues to be a beloved garden today!
Images for kids
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The entrance on the Shelburne Falls side of the bridge
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A view from the center of the bridge, with the Deerfield River
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The entrance on the Buckland side of the bridge
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