Maple Street Bridge Open

"Pratt-through truss" design was patented in 1844.

One of the little joys of attending this year’s reunion was having a choice of how to get there! Of course some residents will admit they “forget” the choice is now available… and it is a limited choice, you can only use the Maple Street Bridge to get into town, not out! (It’s one way and narrow.)

I took the liberty of digging into Phyllis’s book for some background… the history of the bridge is interesting! And I’m not telling you everything so you have to buy the book!

I do remember when it repairs were done (late sixties?), then Road Boss Mutt Ell joked that he loved it because it wouldn’t need plowing. (The deck was a grid, the snow fell through.) According to A History of Chester the bridge was closed in 1981. For a while it looked like it would be permanently lost when the Massachusetts Highway Department threatened to demolish it. Plans for reconstruction were developed in 2006 but were a long time coming!

One of the interesting delays took place in May 2007 when the state informed the town they didn’t own it! Then Selectman Dominic Piergiovanni and his wife Fay completed lots of research to prove otherwise. We’re fortunate that there were some folks in Chester determined to see the bridge restored to its former glory! Special thanks to the Chester Historical Society for being stubborn!

For your walking and driving pleasure!

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