New Bedford-Fairhaven Middle Bridge, Spanning Acushnet River on U.S. Highway 6, New Bedford, Bristol County, MA

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Historic American Buildings Survey/Historic American Engineering Record/Historic American Landscapes Survey

18 b&w photos
22 data pages
1 photo caption pages

TITLE:
New Bedford-Fairhaven Middle Bridge, Spanning Acushnet River on U.S. Highway 6, New Bedford, Bristol County, MA

CALL NUMBER:
HAER MASS,3-NEBED,26-

REPRODUCTION NUMBER:
[See Call Number]

MEDIUM:
Photo(s): 18 (4 x 5 in.)
Data Page(s): 21 plus cover page
Photo Caption Page(s): 1

DATE:
Documentation compiled after 1968.

CREATOR:
Historic American Engineering Record, creator

RELATED NAME(S):
Swain, George F.
Pencoyd Iron Works

NOTE:
Survey number HAER MA-101

Unprocessed field note material exists for this structure (FN-20).

Building/structure dates: 1899 initial construction

Significance: The New Bedford-Fairhaven Middle Bridge is a relatively early example of electric power applied to a moveable bridge span, and is one of the longest (288') surviving swing spans in Massachusetts, under Massachusetts Department of Public Works purview. The bridge was designed by two significant engineers: George F. Swain (1857-1931) , a well-known structural engineer, and William F. Williams (1859-1929), New Bedford City Engineer.

SUBJECTS:
MASSACHUSETTS--Bristol County--New Bedford
swing bridges
vehicular bridges

COLLECTION:
Historic American Engineering Record (Library of Congress)

REPOSITORY:
Library of Congress, Prints and Photograph Division, Washington, D.C. 20540 USA

DIGID:
http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/hhh.ma1419

CONTENTS:
Photograph caption(s):
1. General view from west river bank, looking southeast
2. General view of swing span from west river bank, looking southeast
3. Oblique view of swing span from west river bank, looking southeast
4. Center of swing span from mid-river platform, looking north
5. Detail of tower at center of swing span, looking north
6. Swing span in motion, from mid-river platform, looking north
7. Swing span in motion, from mid-river platform, looking north
8. Swing span in open position, looking north from mid-river platform
9. Detail of southeast corner of swing span in open position
10. General view of east end of swing span, looking northeast
11. Detail of central tower connections, looking northeast
12. Detail of southeast endpost and topchord of swingspan, looking northeast
13. Detail of lower chord and floor system on southeast side of swing span, looking northeast
14. Detail of sidewalk floor system on southeast side of swing span, looking northeast
15. Detail of swing mechanism at central pier at low tide
16. General view of west portal from roadway, looking southeast
17. Oblique view of west portal from pedestrian walkway, looking southeast
18. General view of truss geometry and connections at west portal end of swing span, looking southeast

CONTROL #:
MA1419

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