New Portland Wire Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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New Portland Wire Bridge
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 New Portland Wire Bridge
Location in Maine
New Portland Wire Bridge
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | New Portland, Maine |
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| Area | 0.3 acres (0.12 ha) |
| Built by | Morse, Col. F. B. |
| Architectural style | Wire (suspension) Bridge |
| NRHP reference No. | 70000065 |
| Added to NRHP | January 12, 1970 |
The New Portland Wire Bridge is a very old and special suspension bridge in New Portland, Maine. It carries Wire Bridge Road over the Carrabassett River. This bridge was built in the mid-1800s. It is one of only four suspension bridges from that time left in Maine. It's only wide enough for one car at a time. It also has a weight limit of 3 tons. The bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1970. It was also named a Maine Historic Civil Engineering Landmark in 1990.
Contents
Discovering the Wire Bridge
This historic bridge is located in a quiet, natural area. It crosses the river just before Lemon Stream joins it. The bridge is 188 feet (57 m) long. It is also 12 feet (3.7 m) wide. This is just enough space for one lane of traffic.
How the Bridge Was Built
The bridge towers are 25 feet (7.6 m) tall. They sit on strong foundations made of large, rough granite stones. The towers are covered with wooden shingles. They are built from 12 inches (30 cm) thick wooden beams.
The main steel cables are about 4 inches (10 cm) thick. These cables connect to the bridge's wooden deck. There are 204 steel girders that help hold the deck up. The ends of the cables are held firmly in place. They are anchored by heavy concrete and granite blocks. These blocks weigh about 30 tons. The surface you drive on is made of wooden planks.
The Bridge's Interesting History
The exact story of when the bridge was built is a bit of a local mystery. One popular story says it was built between 1840 and 1842. This account credits Colonel F. B. Morse, who lived nearby. He was an engineer in the army.
"Morse's Fool Bridge" Nickname
According to this story, Colonel Morse ordered the special cables from Sheffield, England. He then had them pulled overland from Hallowell, Maine by many oxen. Some local people thought the project was silly. They even called it "Morse's Fool Bridge."
Official Construction Dates
However, the official town history tells a different story. It states that the bridge was built later, between 1864 and 1866. This account names David Eider and Captain Charles Clark as the builders. The bridge was last fixed up in 2009 and 2010. Its towers and main cables are still the original ones.
