The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1921-11-01

(By FAX LUDLOW.) Quietly, without any formalities, and without any ceremonies, all or which will be celebrated in fitting fashion on Armistice Day, November II, the new Washington bridge, pride of the state, pride of Fairield coun- ty, and pride of New Haven county, was opened for public use at o'clock this morning.
 For wagons, motors and pedestrians the bridge is practically completed, and entirely in use- For the Con necticut company only the west bound trolley track is as yet con nected, but in a few days the east bound track will be in use. and then for the last time the draw on the faithful old structure will be opened and the wreckers will start to dis mantle it.
 The old bridge was inadequate. It has been for a long long time. But it worked, somehow or other it han dled the traffic. and it is still strong Lots of fun was poked at the old structure, but it was seldom com plaint was heard of the draw swing Ing open and refusing to go shut which is not an unheard of event on some of Bridgeport's costly harbor spans.
 The new bridge is a thing of beau- ty, and a work of art that any en- gineer could well boast of with pride. To State Highway Commissioner Bennett, Deputy Commissioner Saun- uerS ana tneir aluS, F. E. IodI.dIu and the other Fairfield County Com missioners give all credit and praise. ''The Washington Bridge is the name which local custom has given to the highway bridge over the Hou- satonic river on the Post Road be- tween the towns of Milford and Strat- ford; a name which is now to be transferred to and perpetuated by the modern concrete structure now rapid ly nearing completion under the di- rection of the Connecticut Highway Commission.
 Long before any bridge was thought of, or thought possible of construc- ton, Moses Wheeler, as early as 164S, conceived the idea of operating a fer ry at this point. He was the right man in the right place, for he had and legends of early Stratford say that he was so strong he could lift a barrel of cider and drink from the bung hole.
 Reports of the General court sit ting in Hartford on May IS, 164S, tell of a Motion made by MT. Ludlow (Roger Ludlow-one of the early set tiers of Stratford and later of Nor walk) concerning Moses Wheeler for keeping the ferry at Stratford is re- ferred to such as shall keep the next court at Fairfield. in behalf of the country and Town of Stratford.'' It is evident that 'tred tape" Is no modern product, for it was April 14, 1853 before the ferry was ready to operate This was aIteT aR Order ndQ been given for fences to be removed | that passengers might be able to reach the landing. Wheeler did not receive a permanent franchise. but | was given a permit good for 21 years. On January 6, 1890 his son, Samuel, took a 21 year lease. Moses was then | 92 and thought he was too old to ! run the ferry.
 f Before his lease expired, and for | some time prior to 1719 the ferry | was operated by Richard B1ackleach. In 1721, after much pickering and wrang1fng permit was issued for | the operation of a second boat to be l stationed on the Milford side of the | stream. Nothing came of the pro- | ject however. and the Stratford fer | ry continued the only method of con- l nectnig the two important parts of | the State until May 175S when the | subject was again revived, and finally, | Josiah Curtis built a tavern, part of | the bargain, the permit being grant | ed for Q ferry on the proviso that a l tavern would be built and maintained l on the Milford side of the river. Up-
 on completion of the tavern, Peter | Hepburn operated the boat from Mil :. | ford. The ferries continued to oper- | ate until after 1900.
 | drawn up by Jonathan Sturges and l presented to the Legislature. The pc
 tion was in the name of Jonathan | Sturges, ct a1., inc. known later and
 
 Stratford Bridge company. The piers | and abutements were to be of stone. | Before the project was very old sentiment caused the name to be changed to Washington. bridge, and this brings to the surface as pret-
 ty a tale as can be found in the i early history of Stratford.
 In 1775 little Alice Benjamin was l picking berries on the Stratford side of the river. She heard some men on the Milford side call for the ferry. When they landed she watched them approach in fear and in awe, for they l were soldiers, only a, few, and don ned with strange uniforms. One of the men approached the little Benja-
 min girl and asked her the way to
 Benjanins tavern. This early day road house was operated by her father probably not far from the location of the present Stratford Inn, | recently renamed.
 On the way to the Inn the man talked to the girl in a peculiar ac- cent and told her that he had some little girls on the "other side" At the Inn the man met another gentle strange uniform was Lafayette. The other man was Washington. It was at that time and place, without req son to doubt, that the alliance be- tween France and America, that was renewed such a few years ago, be- came a reality, and a reality that will ever live, though at times it may be far benath the surface.
 And so it was to be Washington bridge.l A modification of the peti- ton was later permitted to allow part of the piers and abutements to be of wooden construction. Part of