Stone's Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Stone's Bridge
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View of bridge from Stonebridge Road.
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | Sudbury River off Old Stonebridge Rd., Framingham and Wayland, Massachusetts |
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| Built | 1858 |
| Built by | Simonds, William |
| Architectural style | Stone arch bridge |
| NRHP reference No. | 100000527 |
| Added to NRHP | January 17, 2017 |
Stone's Bridge is a very old stone arch bridge located in Framingham and Wayland, Massachusetts. It was built way back in 1858. This bridge crosses part of the Sudbury River and is a great example of how bridges were built in the mid-1800s.
Even though it was damaged by a flood in 1955, it's still an important historical site. Stone's Bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975, which means it's recognized as a special place in history. Today, the bridge is closed, so people cannot cross it.
Contents
What is Stone's Bridge?
Stone's Bridge is a unique bridge with four arches. It sits on the border between Framingham (on the west side) and Wayland (on the east side). The bridge is named after a local person from long ago, Daniel Stone, not because it's made of stone!
How Was the Bridge Built?
The bottom parts of the bridge, called the footings, and its arches are made from split granite stones. These stones were carefully placed together without using any mortar, a method called "dry laid." The top of the bridge is covered with grass.
Today, the bridge doesn't reach all the way to the Framingham side of the river. Its western end stops before the main river channel. This end was fixed with a stone-covered concrete wall after it was damaged.
A Look Back at Stone's Bridge History
People have been crossing the Sudbury River at this spot for a very long time, even since the early days of American colonies. Records show there was a "horse bridge" here as early as 1674, close to Daniel Stone's home.
The Revolutionary War Connection
Many people believe that the famous "guns of Ticonderoga" crossed this bridge during the American Revolutionary War. These were cannons being moved by General Henry Knox to help the American army. There's even a special marker on the Wayland side of the bridge. It tells us that this spot is part of the Henry Knox Trail, which remembers this important journey.
Building the Current Bridge
The bridge you see today was built between 1857 and 1858. A man named William Simonds was the builder, according to old records from Framingham. Even the famous writer Henry David Thoreau mentioned the bridge in his diary entries from 1859!
Damage and Changes
In 1955, a big flood from Hurricane Diane damaged Stone's Bridge. Because of this, Stonebridge Road, which used to cross here, was moved to a new bridge built a bit further south. After the flood, the western end of Stone's Bridge was made stable, and new support walls were added on the Wayland side.
