Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1891-02-13


mighte be safely done before ye commissioners
come. %
Whether the undertaking was delayed
from lack of confidence after all in the
feasibility of the project does not appear,
but the winter came on and ground had
not been broken.
Quoting from December 3, 1851:
ut was propounded that some 9e,4 safer way y
hs be ep to bee ns
way was desired to be viewed again.
The latter clause seems indicative of
some irresolution concerning the proposed
bridge The "new way" in the opinion of
the writer, should be construed to refer to
the road on the west side of the East
river, through the farms of Eaton, At
water, Brewster, Bradley, ETC., and which
was slowly creeping along the high ground
northward. In fact, in 1859 mention is
made of "The way to Connecticote" as
being west of the river.
But if not then, certainly few years
later, "the Changers" were overcome and
crossing made, for in 1886, the town of
New Haven, apparently taking survey of
their highways, mentions
Bridge, to go over the Neck to the Bridge over
.'the East river, and thence to Wharton's Brook,
"6 rods WIDE %.
This route lay near the present extern
sion of Middletown avenue in New Haven,
and was the first highway over the mead
ows, and it was in this route North Haven
people, particularly those living on the
least side, were especially Interested.
Following the year 1886 there is long
period of silence. From succeeding events
it would seem that after time Qonger or
shorter) this bridge ceased to exist, whether
from calamity or decay we know not. That
the highway was closed in 1862 we know,
from the fact that in December Of that
year
"Stephen Morris and sundry other persons Re-
''quested of We Town that they might have Lib
''erty granted to them to Build Bridge across
''and also Bridge across ye East River, at ye
Landing Tree, SO called. D.
This privilege was accorded them pro-
vided the town be keptfree from cost and
expense and the passage of the river be
not INSTRUCTED. These petitioners appar-
emily rehabilitated and reopened part
perhaps ally of this old route. They car
ried it a few years only to find the burden
too expensive for them, for in 1857,
Stephen Morris and the others who built
the bridges across at the Landing tree and
Little river proposed to give them up to
the town. The town accepted them pro-
vided the petitioners would keep open the
road for travel from the wester most OF
said bridges to the East Haven road.
In Memorial" prepared by these pro
prietors, we have a statement of their
work.
''The Memorial of Samuel Davenport ESQ
"agent for East Haven, and Joel Blakeslee agent
"for North Haven, representing substantial free
"holderS belonging to NewHaven, Bradford, Gull
ford, and Durham, sheweth &c. That some Of
"your memorialists ancestors by the approba
| ''tion of the town of New Haven to whom they
belonged, with great expense and labour II
''their private capacity constructed and finished
. "%sE apes New Eaves East river s :,
Haven and your memoraists ancestors gave tn
..land over which the said Causeway was to ex
"length to accommodate themselves and thu
public with safe and convenient road to New
Haven. co.
This language clearly refers to thu
original layout. Now, as stated above
Morris (who lived not far from the Hoad
ley Bray place. and his associates surren
dered their rights and the bridges passed
into the hands of New Haven.
But this transfer did not end tn,
trouble. There was more vexation- o.
spirit yet in store over this ill-starret
highway. The structure was SECOND
time destroyed and temporary ferry hae
to be substituted. There was now n,
bridge below "Mansfelds." All tn,
heavy traffic of the Revolutionary war wa
turned through North Haven village ant
over this crossing.
In January, 1880, at town meeting il
New Haven, it was voted to make appli
cation to the general assembly for per
mission "to raise a Lottery to enable tn
town to build bridge over East rive
where Morris bridge stood" The legisla
ture granted the petition and schem
OF f1O0O was agreed upon. The lotter.
was drawn, or so much of it as raise,
| e4S1. 5. Al.
Unexpected opposition now arose t.
building the bridge in SO dangerous spot
and to settle it the town went to the gen
eral assembly in 1882 and asked for com
missioners to locate the place over Eas
river where the bridge should be built TO
which the lottery was granted"
Ii such committee was appointed an
ever made report it is not to be found
The bridge was set at the old place, for i
1888 "the selectmen were requested to 81
anime the accounts Of Capt. John Mix fo
rebuilding the bridge over East river
CThis was the structure contracted for b
Calvin Heaton of North Haven.) None q
the lottery money, however, was put in
to it.
Notwithstanding the route was finall
restored, it began to be felt only fe,
years later that it was insufficient to &C
commodate the rapidly growing city an
country travel. Guilford, Branford, Eas
Haven, ETC., were compelled to make
long detour, nearly up to the North Have
line, in order to reach this causeway an,
bridge, and then double back again. .
nearer route was sought. In 1888 the tow
of New Haven appointed "Elizur Coco
rich and Isaac Beers as agents to apply t
the general assembly for license to build
toll bridge at Dragon" g.
A year later this grant was secure
coupled with the permission to close u
'the Long bridge and causeway" whe
dragon bridge" should be finished.
| As soon as this move was made man
fest, Middletown, North Branford, NORTH
ford, Durham, Wallingford and Mort
Haven rose with indignant protest; the
denounced the plan as an outrage on thei
rights and an Infringement of their libe
ties. A petition was at once prepared se
ting forth the loss which would fall upo
the farmers, and the public by the disco,
tinuance of this long used thoroughfar
One hardship sure to follow, was this:
to s ana
'by building the toll bridge, in the destructie
} ga large share of the poor and Industrious pa
''of the Community" CO
, This remembrance was signed by Il
: men of North Haven, led by DR.. Benjami
Trumbull, AZ of East Haven, 20 of Mort
Branford, SO of Northford, 43 of Wallin,
ford and of Durham. Yet notwithstant
ing its strength it did not prevail. tt
bridge was built at dragon" between Il
years 1871 and 1898, and thesmoney raise
by lottery was paid over to the contra
tors, Henry Daggett, James Prescott an
Thomas Punderson. D
The 319 remonstrants mentioned abo,
now turned their efforts to prevent Il
dismantling of the Long bridge. In til
they were successful, though at gres
cost, as will be seem
In March, 1901, at or about the tin
work began upon the Dragon bridge, the
entered into an agreement with the tow
of New Haven whereby in considerable
, that commissioners should disappointed
oversee the same they would pledge then