Bridge over Deerfield River, Shelburne Falls, Mass.

From the collections of PVMA • Digital image © Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Assoc. • Image use information

About this item

Shelburne Falls is a village comprised of the business districts of Buckland and Shelburne, Massachusetts. Bridges like this were critical to the economic and social wellbeing of the village. The first bridge on this site succumbed to a massive flood in 1869, which destroyed mills and factory buildings along the Deerfield River. The next year the town had a new bridge built on the same site – “Hertel’s Patent Parabolic Iron Truss Bridge.” Within a short time it collapsed under the weight of horses and wagons carrying goods from one side to the other. Finally, the village hired Edward S. Shaw to design a bridge that would span the 320 feet needed and support the comings and goings of horse and wagon transport. The result was a collection of three “Warren Through Trusses” that have lasted to this day. The arches visible under the bridge are actually part of the structure behind it. This bridge has simple pillar legs.

Related Items

Details

Item typePostcard
PhotographerUnidentified
Date1913
PlaceShelburne Falls, Massachusetts
TopicTransportation, Travel, Tourism
EraProgressive Era, World War I, 1900–1928
MaterialPaper
Process/FormatPhotography; Printing
Dimension detailsHeight: 3.50 in Width: 5.50 in
Catalog #1999.03.0064
View this item in our curatorial database →
Bridge over Deerfield River, Shelburne Falls, Mass. Photograph. 1913. Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association, American Centuries. https://americancenturies.org/collection/1999-03-0064/. Accessed on October 10, 2024.

Please note: Citations are generated automatically from bibliographic data as a convenience, and may not be complete or accurate.