Slade's Ferry Bridge

I worked for the company that took the bridge down in 1970. I was 18 at the time dong general labor on the project.

The fencing along the walkway was taken off and donated to the maritime museum where it was installed as part of the landscaping. The soap stone panel in the control room was also donated to the museum. I do not the current status of those items.

I was also present when the draw span was cut loose from the counter weight where upon the counter weight crushed the span between the old turn table and the granite structure that supported draw span and control house. Nobody was injured, but it was a very a dangerous situation.

Each section of the bridge on the Fall River side was floated off on a barge and towed to Tiverton where it was cut up at Kidd's Construction Company's yard.

As a young man it was a great adventure and I worked with many interesting people. That job allowed me to save enough money for my first year of college.

It is good to see a new bridge going up to replace the Brightman Street Bridge.

Ironically there was discussion about that bridge being replaced back in 1970.