Golden Hill Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Golden Hill Bridge
|
|
 |
|
 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | Golden Hill Rd., Lee, Massachusetts |
|---|---|
| Architect | Berlin Iron Bridge Co. |
| Architectural style | Lenticular pony truss |
| NRHP reference No. | 93001592 |
| Added to NRHP | February 9, 1994 |
The Golden Hill Bridge is a really old and special bridge in Lee, Massachusetts. It crosses the Housatonic River on Golden Hill Road. This bridge was built around 1885 by a company called the Berlin Iron Bridge Company.
What makes it special? It's a "lenticular pony truss" bridge. This means its main support beams curve both above and below, looking a bit like a lens. It's the oldest bridge of its kind still standing in Massachusetts! It's also one of only five bridges from the Berlin Iron Bridge Company in the Berkshire area. In 1994, the bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's an important historical landmark.
The Bridge's Design and History
The Golden Hill Bridge is found in a quiet, countryside part of northern Lee. It carries Golden Hill Road over the Housatonic River. The bridge is made of iron and has one main section. It's about 80 feet (24 meters) long and 16 feet (5 meters) wide. It rests on strong concrete supports. The middle part of the bridge is about 7 feet (2 meters) deep. Today, the bridge deck has modern steel beams and a concrete road surface.
People have known about a bridge at this spot since the 1790s! The bridge that was there before needed repairs in 1866. By 1885, it was clear a new bridge was needed. The town hired the Berlin Iron Bridge Company to build the new bridge. This company was very famous for building bridges back then. The Golden Hill Bridge was finished for about $1,000.
Over the years, the bridge has had some updates. In 1965, a metal grid was added to the deck. In 1970, the original deck supports were replaced with stronger I-beams. In 1992, the bridge was closed to cars because it was getting old. It was even closed to people walking across it in 1996. But don't worry! In 2005, the bridge got a big makeover and was fixed up. Now, it's open again for traffic!
