Hamburg Bridge Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Hamburg Bridge Historic District
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 Location in Connecticut
Location in the United States
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| Location | Joshuatown Road and Old Hamburg Road, Lyme, Connecticut |
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| Area | 21 acres (8.5 ha) |
| Built | 1759 |
| Architect | Multiple |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival, Colonial, Queen Anne |
| NRHP reference No. | 83001288 |
| Added to NRHP | March 10, 1983 |
The Hamburg Bridge Historic District is a special historical area in Lyme, Connecticut. It's a small village that was once very important for trade and travel. This area has had a bridge over the Eight Mile River since 1759. It was also the "head of navigation" for the river. This means it was as far as larger boats could travel up the river from the Connecticut River. The district includes 10 old houses and stone docks. These buildings and docks are very important to history. The Hamburg Bridge Historic District became part of the National Register of Historic Places on March 10, 1983.
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What is the Hamburg Bridge Historic District?
The Eight Mile River gets its name because its mouth is about 8 miles (13 km) from the mouth of the Connecticut River. The Eight Mile River flows into the Connecticut River through Hamburg Cove. The Hamburg Bridge is built where the river becomes narrow and shallow. This spot was the "head of navigation." It was the farthest point upriver that bigger boats could reach.
A Busy River Community
Because of the bridge and the river access, a small community grew here. By the year 1800, there were houses, shops, and docks along both sides of the river. This area was very successful for trade and business. Boats would bring goods up the river to Hamburg Bridge. From there, goods could be moved by land.
Why the Area Changed
The Hamburg Bridge area was important until about 1824. At that time, a deeper channel was dug further downriver. This new channel led to the village center of Hamburg. This meant larger boats could now go past Hamburg Bridge. Because of this, the Hamburg Bridge area became less important for trade. No new buildings were built there for a long time.
Historic Buildings and Features
The Hamburg Bridge Historic District covers about 21 acres (8.5 ha) of land. It has 10 houses. Nine of these houses were built in the 1700s or early 1800s. The tenth house was built later, in 1879. All the houses are made of wood. They have simple designs, but some have small decorations added over time.
Old Stone Wharves and the Bridge
Many properties in the district have old stone docks or landing areas. These docks show how important the river was for trade long ago. The current bridge at Hamburg is a concrete bridge with three arches. It was built in 1936.
