Schell Bridge

The Schell Memorial Bridge is a steel cantilever Pennsylvania (Petit) truss bridge spanning the Connecticut River in the town of Northfield, Massachusetts. Designed by Edward S. Shaw, the bridge abutments and piers were built by the firm of Ellis & Buswell of Woburn, Massachusetts, and the superstructure was built by the New England Structural Company of East Everett, Massachusetts.[3] The bridge was commissioned by Francis R. Schell, who gave $42,000 for design and construction.[4] Construction began in 1901 and was completed in 1903. In 1985, due to advanced deterioration of the steel truss members, the bridge was barricaded and abandoned.[5]

Schell Bridge
Coordinates42°42′44″N 72°27′12″W
CrossesConnecticut River
LocaleNorthfield, Massachusetts
ID numberMUN236002100
Characteristics
Designriveted steel cantilever Pennsylvania (Petit) through truss bridge[1]
MaterialSteel
Total length515 feet (157 m)
Width19 feet (5.8 m)
Longest span352 feet (107 m)
History
DesignerEdward S. Shaw
Construction start1901
Construction end1903
Opened1903 (1903)
Closed1985[2]
Location

History

The Vermont and Massachusetts Railroad had established rail service to Northfield by 1850, along a line running from Millers Falls, Massachusetts, to Brattleboro, Vermont. Even though the railway crossed the Connecticut River in Northfield, East Northfield Station was actually located in West Northfield, making it necessary for disembarking passengers to travel back across the Connecticut River on the lower deck of the rail bridge. To provide for safer and more convenient access across the river, Francis Schell gave $42,000 for the construction of a new steel bridge.[4][6]

After initially being scheduled for demolition by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation in 2007 or 2008, efforts by local preservationists to save the historical landmark delayed the proposed demolition.[7] In 2013, a group called "Friends of the Schell Bridge", which had been dedicated to saving the bridge, reversed course and sided with the state in favor of demolishing the historic bridge.[8]

Preservation effort

A year-long engineering study was performed by the Picker Engineering School at Smith College, which determined that the bridge is structurally sound and is a good candidate for rehabilitation.[7] There has been no accessible bridge crossing between East Northfield and West Northfield since the closing of the bridge in 1985, besides the large Route 10 bridge a mile to the South. Northfield is the only town in Franklin County to be divided by the Connecticut River.

It had been proposed that, if preserved, the bridge will be reopened only to travel by foot, bicycle, snowmobile, and emergency vehicle. It would be integrated into the tri-state rails-to-trails initiative connecting a series of recreational trails in northern Massachusetts, southwestern New Hampshire, and southeastern Vermont.

MassDOT has decided to replace the bridge. Refurbishing it would cost roughly $39M, whereas replacement would cost more like $16.3M. The form of the replacement is under consideration.[9] The replacement will be a steel tied-arch bridge.[10]

  • This 2007 photograph shows a steel plate across the east portal of the Schell bridge. A similar one is on the west portal, since the bridge deck is rusting through. The top of the plate reads "Where the sidewalk ends." The plate has a "NO TRESPASSING" sign bolted to it as well.
    This 2007 photograph shows a steel plate across the east portal of the Schell bridge. A similar one is on the west portal, since the bridge deck is rusting through. The top of the plate reads "Where the sidewalk ends." The plate has a "NO TRESPASSING" sign bolted to it as well.
  • View of the metal barriers while on Schell bridge. The barriers were put up to prevent people from crossing the bridge, but many (young) townies use it as a place to escape, especially during the summer, when many jump into the river.
    View of the metal barriers while on Schell bridge. The barriers were put up to prevent people from crossing the bridge, but many (young) townies use it as a place to escape, especially during the summer, when many jump into the river.
  • View of Schell Bridge facing the east bank of the Connecticut River.
    View of Schell Bridge facing the east bank of the Connecticut River.
  • 1904 postcard
    1904 postcard

See also

References
  1. HAER, p. 2
  2. HAER, p. 5
  3. HAER, p. 8
  4. HAER, p. 4
  5. Bennett, Lola (August 1990). "Schell Memorial Bridge" (PDF). Historic American Engineering Record. Washington, D.C.: Library of Congress. p. 5.
  6. HAER, pp. 6-7
  7. Spaulding, Maureen; Ross, Sue (2007). "Schell Memorial Bridge Threatened" (PDF). Society for Industrial Archeology Newsletter. 36 (2): 4–5.
  8. "Schell Bridge". HistoricBridges.org. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
  9. Ashline, Shelby (13 October 2016). "State: Schell Bridge replacement to start in 2021". Greenfield Recorder. Greenfield, Massachusetts: Newspapers of New England. Retrieved 22 October 2017.
  10. "Schell Memorial Bridge". Friends of Schell Bridge. Retrieved 30 July 2020.

Further reading
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