Town Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Town Bridge
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 Location in Connecticut
Location in the United States
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| Location | Town Bridge Rd. over Farmington River, Canton, Connecticut |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1895 |
| Built by | Berlin Iron Bridge Company |
| Architectural style | Parker through truss |
| NRHP reference No. | 99000923 |
| Added to NRHP | August 5, 1999 |
The Town Bridge is a very old and special bridge located in Canton, Connecticut. It crosses over the beautiful Farmington River. This bridge was built way back in 1895, which makes it over 125 years old!
What makes the Town Bridge so unique? It's a type of bridge called a truss bridge. Truss bridges use a strong framework of triangles to support the weight. The Town Bridge is even more special because it's one of only two "pin-connected Parker truss" bridges left in the entire state of Connecticut. It's so important that it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1999. This means it's officially recognized as a valuable part of history.
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What is the Town Bridge?
The Town Bridge is a historic structure that helps people cross the Farmington River. It's not just any bridge; it's a great example of old engineering. Imagine a giant erector set, and you'll get an idea of how a truss bridge works!
Where is the Town Bridge Located?
You can find the Town Bridge in a quiet, mostly residential area in the southwestern part of Canton. It's just a short distance west of Connecticut Route 179 on a road called Town Bridge Road. It's also north of a small village named Collinsville.
How Was the Bridge Built?
The Town Bridge is a single-span bridge. This means it crosses the river in one long section without any supports in the middle of the water. It stretches about 172 feet (52 m) long. That's longer than five school buses lined up end-to-end! The bridge is also about 12.5 feet (3.8 m) above the river.
What Does it Look Like?
The bridge has a metal surface covered with asphalt, which is what cars drive on. It's wide enough for one lane of traffic at a time. If you look closely, you'll see that the entrances to the bridge have fancy iron decorations. These are called "iron cresting" and they add a nice touch to its design.
Who Built the Town Bridge?
The Town Bridge was built in 1895 by a company called the Berlin Iron Bridge Company. This company was a very important builder of iron bridges in Connecticut during that time. They were known for making strong and reliable bridges.
Why is This Bridge Special?
The Town Bridge is unique for several reasons:
- It's one of the few bridges built by the Berlin Iron Bridge Company that isn't a "lenticular truss" design. Lenticular trusses were their most common type, so this bridge stands out.
- Out of more than 100 bridges the Berlin Iron Bridge Company originally built in Connecticut, fewer than two dozen are still standing today. The Town Bridge is one of them!
- It's one of only two "Parker trusses" in the state that uses "pinned connections." This was a way of joining the metal parts of the bridge with large pins. Around 1900, builders started using "riveted connections" more often, where metal pieces were joined with strong rivets. The Town Bridge actually has both types of connections!
The town decided to build this bridge as part of a plan to improve all the crossings over the Farmington River. The river is known for flowing quickly and sometimes flooding, so strong bridges were very important for the community.
