Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1904-11-04
BELLOWS FALLS NEWS
FREE BRIDGE AFTER t1s YEARS.
$4,000 Paid to Its Owners, One Third
by Rockingham, TwoThirds by Wal.
pole-History of Bridge

$4,000 Paid to Its Owners, one-Thlrd
by Rockingham, Two-Thlrds by Wal.
pole-History of Bridge.
After a little more than 119 years of
taking toll for passing the highway bridge
between North Walpole and Bellows Falls,
the bridge was made free at the close of
business for the day Monday night. Oct
81, and those passing Tuesday went free
for the first time in all these years. Only
a very few people knew the event was so
near contamination until it had actually
occurred. Monday afternoon about .
o'clock the selectmen of Walpole met the
selectmen OF Rockingham in the direc-
tors room of the National bank. The
$4,000 purchase price of the bridge was
paid to the Bellows Falls canal company
its owners through James II. Williams,
its treasurer, and he signed the deed
conveying the bridge, abutments and land
on which it stands to said towns. The
purchase does not include the toll house
or any land on either side the river en-
cept that necessary for the bridge and
its connecting highway. but includes all
the rights and franchises of whatever
nature pertaining to the bridge One
third the money was paid by Rocking
ham and two-thirds by Walpole, and the
deed was dated Nov. l. 1904. Many farm
ers passing Wednesday, and since have
halted and waited patiently before the
toll gatherer's door until some member of
the family has come to the door and told
them that they were free passers for
the first time in over a century.
The first bridge was built at this point
early in 1855, the Worcester Spy of Feb
10, 1855, stating that it had already been
completed. That was the first bridge
across the Connecticut at any point until
1896, and was considered as one of the
greatest engineering feats of that day.
1t was built by Col. Enoch Hale, then
prominent military man of New Hamp-
shire and during the Revolution. He
moved here from Rindge, n. H., the year
before, spent many years of active life
here, and, although man of large means
while here, he died poor in Grafton, Vt,
April 8, 1918.
The present bridge is the second struc-
ture, the first one having served its pur-
pose until 1S40 when the timbers be-
coming rotten from exposure to the ele-
ments, having no cover over the frame
work, this bridge was built to take its
place in that year. The first bridge was
about Is feet lower than the present one,
and Immediately below it, 1t was in use
continually during the building of the
present bridge and after this was com
pleted the old one was cut off at each
end and fell to the rocks below where
high water soon carried it away.
Since the erection of the first bridge
the ownership of the property has
changed but a few times. About 1900
Col Hale lost the title. by the foreclosure
of mortgage and it passed into the
hands of Rudolph Geyer, a wealthy Eng
lishman. He lived in the Mansion"
just at the east end of the bridge. At
his death, about 1920, 1t fell in the di-
vision of the estate, to a daughter. Mrs
Nathaniel Tucker, and when Mr.. Tucker
died about 1865, grandson, the late Ed
ward II. Green, bought the interest of
the other heirs and owned 1t until 1880,
when the late William A. Russell of Law
renee bought it. March IT, 1902, the heirs
of Mr.. Russell sold it to the Bellows
Falls Canal company, and now it passes
into the permanent ownership of the two
towns as above, and is made free for all
time.
Some reports regarding restrictions
contained in the deed have gained cur
rency, but an examination of the docu-
ment shows 1t to be entirely without re-
striction of any kind. The town does not
contract TO always support a bridge there
nor does it agree it shall always be free
although there is no question upon the
latter point, there being no disposition,
even If legal, to collect tolls.
meeting of citizens of both sides of
the river called Tuesday evening at Ban
quet hall to arrange for a suitable cell
ebration of the passing of the old land
mark was attended by about 200 Con-
siderable discussion was INDUCED oratory
aired, etc, and the chairman, j. c. Day
was empowered to appoint a committee
of five to consult with similar committees
from the different sections of Walpole
and arrange in their discretion. The first
intention was to have a small, impromptu
inexpensive marking of the event by a
parade in the evening, possibly with the
band, within a day or two of the OPEN
ing. The result of the meeting was to