Samson Occom Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Bridge No. 1860
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 Location in Connecticut
Location in the United States
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| Location | Massapeag Side Rd. (Rt. 433) over Shantok Brook, Montville, Connecticut |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1936 |
| Architectural style | Vernacular, Rustic |
| MPS | Connecticut State Park and Forest Depression-Era Federal Work Relief Programs Structures TR |
| NRHP reference No. | 93000644 |
| Added to NRHP | July 29, 1993 |
The Samson Occom Bridge, also called Bridge No. 1860, is a cool old stone bridge in Montville, Connecticut, USA. It's an arch bridge made from fieldstone. This bridge was built way back in 1936 by the Connecticut State Highway Department. It was part of a special program called the Works Progress Administration, which helped people find jobs during a tough time called the Great Depression.
The bridge is on land that belongs to the Mohegan tribe. It used to be part of Fort Shantok State Park. The Samson Occom Bridge carries cars and trucks on Massapeag Side Road (Route 433) over a small stream called the Shantok Brook. This brook flows into the Thames River. The bridge is about 12 feet (3.7 meters) wide and its arch rises about 6 feet (1.8 meters) above the water. About 1,100 vehicles cross it every day. Because it's so old and important, the Samson Occom Bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1993.
What Makes the Samson Occom Bridge Special?
Even though state records call it Bridge Number 1860, most people know this bridge as the "Samson Occom Bridge." On one side of the bridge, there's a wooden sign. It honors a famous Mohegan man named Samson Occom. He was a Christian missionary and teacher from Montville who lived a long time ago. The sign doesn't exactly say "This is the Samson Occom Bridge," but it points out that this is the "Site of the Samson Occum Bridge."
The bridge was built in 1936. It's made from medium-sized fieldstones held together with cement. The arch is shaped like a half-circle, and it's built with a ring of stones, each about 18 inches (46 cm) deep. The whole bridge, including the walls on the sides, is made from these fieldstones. The road on top is about 16 feet (4.9 meters) wide. The parts of the bridge that rise above the road form low stone walls, like railings, with sloped ends. The total length of the bridge, including these railings, is about 20 feet (6.1 meters).
Why Is This Bridge Important?
The Samson Occom Bridge is important for a few reasons. When it was added to the National Register of Historic Places, it was noted as a great example of the public works projects from the 1930s. These projects helped build many things across the country. It also shows the "picturesque park architecture" style that was popular in the early 1900s.
This bridge was built when using cobblestone for state park buildings was common. It's also special because it's an example of the work done by the federal Works Progress Administration (WPA). The WPA was a huge program that created jobs for millions of Americans during the Great Depression. They built roads, bridges, parks, and many other important structures, including this bridge.
