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“Before the Footbridge came to Willimantic (part 2 of 2)”
From circa 1850-1905,
the need for a better connection between Main and Pleasant Streets had
been a burning issue.
A
1906 newspaper article mentioned that, prior to the footbridge, a plank
walk on the railroad bridge led to, “the romantic ‘River Path’ thereby
giving access to Pleasant Street. This dangerous walk was in use for
several Year’s and many accidents resulted, though, strange to relate,
none are recalled that proved fatal”. One “Chronicle” story mentioned
that Clifford Brown was “descending River Path when going to work this
morning” when he saw a man in the river near the bridge. Brown and
several railroad workers pulled the man out. Another story in 1893
reported that a man, while drunk, attempted to navigate the river path
under the ledge on the south bank of the river above the railroad bridge
and in consequence took a tumble and landed on the ice. “The walk is
very dangerous even for a sober man, as the railing is very weak. The
walk and railing is private property but it may be of question as to the
propriety of its being kept open for travel and maintained in a
dangerous condition”. On the Main Street side of the walkway, dangerous
conditions were also being noticed and decried. Willimantic’s first
railroad depot sat between several sets of tracks. Over the Year’s, a
number of people were badly hurt and at least one person
was killed after being caught between trains. Mr.
Stutely Sweet of Coventry was killed in a horrific accident at the depot
in April, 1882 and this led to a lawsuit and complaints to the
Willimantic burgesses and even to the State Legislature. The safety of
anyone attempting to cross the tracks where trains were almost
constantly moving was said to be imperiled. The River Path, while
useful, unfortunately required crossing the tracks at the depot and so
from 1882 on, calls for a better bridge OVER the tracks resumed.
In
1902, the members of Willimantic’s Board of Trade became involved. An
1892 plan that had been drawn up was presented and examined with a great
deal of interest. Of course there were several discussions concerning
cost and location
of the bridge. H.C.
Murray (owner of the Boston Store), was a big proponent of a footbridge.
While he was concerned that people had no safe way to cross the tracks,
as a businessman he said that a footbridge would “give the city a
businesslike and hustling appearance”. He also felt the city was
enjoying, “a period of prosperity and ought not to be afraid to have
necessary improvements”. Allen B. Lincoln made the argument that, “the
bridge would tend to solidify the city and bring people on both sides
into closer relations”. In 1903, Joseph Wood, knowing that there was
opposition to building a footbridge, walked around Willimantic and
gathered 307 names on a petition to present to the Willimantic
Selectmen. Then, in August, 1903, he sat near the depot and, “counted
the number of people who were dangerously crossing the railroad bridge”
and the tracks. In eight hours, he counted 300 people.
In May, 1904 a footbridge committee, led by local
attorney George Hinman, was formed and plans were prepared after they
had examined the numerous plans drawn in past Year’s by the various
committees.
At a special town meeting in October, 1904, Hinman
spoke eloquently of the need for a footbridge. “The other side of the
river is growing in population and erection of buildings. If the city is
to grow, it will grow in this portion and more so if the bridge is
built. The people on this side of the river often need to go to the
other side on business and pleasure and we need it as much as they do.
The inconvenience of crossing the river at the present time is great and
a dangerous thing. It involves a violation of law, trespassing on the
railroad for which so many transients are fined in the police court.” The footbridge that we all know was built in 1906. But for at least
sixty Year’s the
building of a bridge over the railroad tracks and river to connect
Pleasant Street and Main Street had been a burning issue. The project
was consistently shelved because the assumed cost. But as Tom Beardsley
once pointed out, “ In the 1890s the control of the city council fell
into the hands of progressive Irish-Americans, and under the leadership
of Mayor Danny Dunn a new bridge across the Willimantic River opened for
business in November 1906”. The safe crossing was now assured.
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