The Hamden Covered Bridge Breaks During Move

 

Thursday, July 20, 2000

I went to Hamden yesterday [July 19] to see the bridge being moved off the river. It went well for a time. The bridge was over halfway across when it all started to come apart when the near crane began to tip over. When the crane let the tension go on its side of the bridge the bridge broke near the center and landed in the river. I will never forget the sound of that wood creaking and snapping!

The broken part was sawed off and almost half the bridge was set down in the river. Before I left, the section in the river was lifted out and set on the road. The bridge is now in two sections with lots of broken and splintered wood.

Dick Wilson