Nov 30, 2017

3 - Bridges

Authors

LRTA-C150, LaHave_River_Project

Banner photo : Early train crossing the Train Bridge above Bridgewater. Note the Davison Mill under the bridge. photo from Duane Porter (HSRM)

Background

When a major watercourse cuts through your community, bridges are vital for any movement. In 2017, there are ten bridges across the Main Branch of the LaHave River between Bridgewater and New Germany.

A bit of history ...

The first record of a bridge across the LaHave was approximately 1825. In 1845 a drawbridge was constructed and the replacement is in a picture below. It was a 'crib-work style' by contractors John Pack and Joseph R Wyman with a sign that said Keep to the Left. Walk your horse.

In 1885, the only bridges across the LaHave north of Bridgewater were at the mill at the base of Wentzell Lake, Riversdale (Pinehurst) and New Germany.

In 1885, the Provincial Bridge Act was passed resulting in new steel bridge spans.

The train bridge that is now on the Centennial Trail was built in 1901 to connect the already existing tracks of the Nova Scotia Central at Bridgewater Junction just north of Bridgewater to the H&SW line under construction westward to Yarmouth. A seven span deck girder bridge, it opened for full service in 1905. Just north of the bridge was the Davison Lumber Company's Upper Bridgewater Mill and a conveyor ran under the bridge to the mill's large sawdust burner located south of the bridge. The mill was washed out by floods in the 1930s leaving ruins which are visible to the north of the bridge. The bridge was abandoned by Canadian National in 1993.

Some of the bridges as you go upstream from Bridgewater ...