It is on this cold February day that I walk the eastern shore of the Merrimack River, reflecting on the years that have passed as well as the local innovations that have made our ancestors lives a little easier. As our ancestors traveled about town thoroughly engaged in their respective commerce their thoughts were clear, focused and willing to embrace change. Some were farmers, some were engaged in the small factories that were sprouting up in Concord during the 19th century, all were interested in providing for their families and helping one another navigate the daily routines. There are some people that simply care to make life easier for themselves as well as for their neighbors, change was on the horizon.
When the earliest settlers traveled north to Concord there were many decisions to be made relating to the first settlement. This first settlement was called the Plantation of Pennycook, granted a town charter by the provincial legislature. The very first settlers traveled the swift waters of the Merrimack River and landed upon the sandy west shore of the riverbank. The ancient forest sloped near the river and the distant horizon boasted our present-day Rattlesnake Hill. There were immense bluffs high above on both the eastern and western shores in the distance. As the settlers established their camp this first night they gathered and discussed their plans for exploring this new charter, where the early town would be established. As they rested on the western shore of the river they gazed to the high land across the river to the east where the highest bluffs were seen. Travel being easier they ventured into the western forest towards our present-day Main Street, again and again they explored this area where civilization soon sprouted.
As additional settlers arrived the people set about building shelters and establishing their food and wood supply to confront the quickly approaching winter months. There were a series of garrisons constructed offering protection while fields were cleared and crops were planted in time. As the settlers worked and more people arrived from the south they looked eastward towards the large bluffs, a place that has held multiple names over the years. Our ancestors referred to the land high on the hill across the river as the Dark Plains, Burglars Island and today the Concord Heights. There have been additional names too, this land to the east that the earliest settlers did not frequent. When the winter months arrived and ice covered portions of the Merrimack River our ancestors would simply walk across the ice and travel to the bluffs while hunting and exploring. During the warmer months our ancestors established a ferry to transport people, horses and wagons and various products across the river to the markets on Main Street. This mysterious land on the east side of our river was established and settled as the years passed, fields were cleared, farms were built and people established their families there. The river always provided an obstacle and talk continued in the early years, talk about eliminating the ferry and establishing a bridge for passage. The people embraced this concept and plans continued to be made as our little town grew.
We have seen many bridges come and go; some were constructed only to have mother nature remove them in short order. Massive freshets, large pieces of frozen ice, traveled down the river and destroyed bridges along the way. As Pennycook Plantation became Rumford and Rumford became Concord in time, our ancestors grew fond of the luxury a series of bridges provided. The very first bridge was opened to traffic on Oct. 29, 1795, known as the Concord Bridge it crossed the Merrimack River at the foot of Water Street. It was followed in the fall of 1798 by the opening of the Federal Bridge, located over the Merrimack River at East Concord. The Federal Bridge was swept away five times by the icy freshets that flowed down the Merrimack River, with the last bridge constructed in 1873. The first main highway bridge between Penacook and Boscawen was erected in 1826, replaced on multiple occasions since. The very first Sewell’s Falls Bridge was erected in 1832 and often carried away by the freshets and flooding during the spring, similar to the fate of the Federal Bridges. Penacook also hosted the early Burrough Bridge, a bridge across the canal near Holdens Mills. These five early bridges were both practical and very useful to our community members, coveted for their everyday convenience.
It was during the spring of 1914 that several large auto trucks experienced problems with some of our bridges. These early bridges were designed to transport lighter loads, people, horses and wagons. In the early 20th century the bridges were now being used by the new automobiles, especially the heavy trucks used to transport lumber, freight and additional loads. The city of Concord was concerned, with several trucks breaking the wood surfaces of the bridges it was thought it would only be a matter of time before a collapse would be seen. The Concord city engineer was consulted and he conducted a safety inspection of all bridges within the city. At the conclusion the city engineer recommended five bridges for replacement, utilizing the modern structures available in 1914 they would be stronger and the decks would be surfaced with concrete.
As our nation headed towards our first world war the city of Concord sought bids for replacing these five bridges, massive steel structures with solid concrete floors would certainly be costly, a plan was initially formed to only replace the worst of the bridges first, followed with a plan to address the additional bridges in the coming years. The engineering firm of Storrs & Storrs in Concord was hired to draw plans and specifications for each of the five bridges in order to receive accurate bids for the projects. As the bids were requested for the very first bridge it was to the delight of the city engineer to find the cost lower than expected, substantially lower as a matter of fact. It quickly became apparent to the city engineer that the European War was driving down the estimates he was seeking, the city of Concord decided the opportunity was good to seek addition bids for the remaining four bridges, a total of five bridge replacements. The firm of Storrs & Storrs busied themselves with the design and specifications for the additional four bridges, a total of five new bridges destined to cross the waterways in Concord. It was said in 1914, the city of Concord recognized a savings of $20,000 by building all five bridges during the same period of time.
The oldest and very first bridges in Concord were “balance beam” bridges known to be very efficient and popular until the 1850s. The second type of bridges found in Concord were the “lattice type” bridges, supported on stone piers and covered with a long-shingled roof. The five new bridges constructed at the beginning of the 1900’s in Concord were known as “iron truss” bridges, very efficient for modern use. These “iron truss” bridges that our ancestors began building in Concord in 1914 were traveled well into modern times, one of the last to go was our beloved Sewell’s Falls bridge.
Our many bridges have spanned not only the water that runs beneath them, they have spanned generations too. They have ushered us safely back and forth day in and day out. Today we cross them without thought, simply a modern convenience that presents itself and of no concern as we travel them daily. Modern designs are very safe, efficient and trusted. The men and woman that design and build bridges hold the safety of our families within their thoughts. Yes indeed, there certainly are some people that simply care to make life easier for themselves as well as for their neighbors.