New Milford in Litchfield County, Connecticut — The American Northeast (New England)
Falls Bridge
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
Erected 2007 by Friends of Lover’s Leap State Park.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Bridges & Viaducts. A significant historical month for this entry is February 1821.
Location. 41° 32.631′ N, 73° 24.46′ W. Marker is in New Milford, Connecticut, in Litchfield County. Marker can be reached from Still River Drive, 0.2 miles east of Pumpkin Hill Road, on the right when traveling east. Located on the old road to Falls Bridge in Lover’s Leap State Park. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: New Milford CT 06776, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Lover’s Leap State Park (here, next to this marker); Bridgeport Wood Finishing Company (here, next to this marker); Space Shuttle Tire (approx. 1.6 miles away); Bridgewater WW I Memorial (approx. 2.3 miles away); Bridgewater WW II Memorial (approx. 2.3 miles away); Bridgewater Center (approx. 2.3 miles away); Twin Red Oaks (approx. 2.3 miles away); New Milford WW II Memorial (approx. 2.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in New Milford.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on September 25, 2009, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut. This page has been viewed 1,361 times since then and 17 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on September 25, 2009, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.