By the 1890’s New Milford’s old wooden bridges had outlived their usefulness, considering their age, the increasing amount of traffic and the coming of the horseless carriage. A sturdy and very ornate iron bridge, built by the Berlin Iron Bridge Company, had replaced the covered wooden bridge at Boardman’s crossing in 1888, and it’s performance and appearance pleased town officials. In early 1895, Granville M. Breinig, President of the Bridgeport Wood Finishing Company approached the town Selectmen with an attractive proposition. Mr, Breinig indicated that his company used the public road that connected with the old wooden bridge in its operation, and profits were severely impacted by restrictions placed on the bridge. His proposal was to exchange the public road for a new road, which would be built on company land eight rods to the south, and given to the town at no cost. In addition, his company would donate $1000 toward the cost of a new iron bridge. The proposal was unanimously accepted at a town meeting on February 23, 1895. The Falls Bridge was completed the same year at a cost of $7,938.

Facts

Originally known as Falls Bridge or Bridge at Great Falls

Size

19 feet wide, 173 feet long and 100 feet above the gorge and rapids.

Lenticular Truss Design

Built by Berlin Iron Bridge Co., Berlin, CT. Over 1000 were built by Berlin Iron Bridge Co. before 1900. One of four of its design still remaining in Connecticut.

Recognition

The National Register of Historic Places in 1976

Historic Highway Bridge designation by CT Department of Transportation

Historic American Engineering Record in Library of Congress

Dedicated June 16, 2007

Marker can be reached from Still River Drive 0.2 miles east of Pumpkin Hill Road, on the right when traveling east.

Courtesy hmdb.org

Credits and Sources: