The History of The Old North Bridge
Kathy M.
Symbols of the Old North Bridge.
On
April 19th 1175 a historic and a truly revolutionary event occurred on
the Old North Bridge in celebrated Concord, Massachusetts. Unfortunately
this important bridge like everything else in our world doesn't live forever.
This bridge has undergone many changes. Its
first alteration came in 1760 when it was reconstructed just five years
after this battle.
Sixteen years after 1775 new routes and roads were constructed which made
the North Bridge unessential and as a result the bridge was removed after
the townspeople requested its elimination. The bridge was torn down in
1793 and some ruins were left.
This notable bridge was abandoned for thirty-two years. In 1825 some citizens
were concerned that there was no memorial for where courageous colonials
had fallen. With a generous donation by Ebenezer Hubbard, in 1870 plans
were made for a statue on the west bank of the river
and for the construction of a new bridge. 
In 1875 this bridge and landmark were
completed. When the historic fight celebrated its centennial the North
Bridge was dedicated. Unfortunately the North Bridge like everything else
in our environment was subject to Mother Nature. In 1888 it was "washed
out" and an oak unit again replaced it in 1889 that would face the
same problems as its forerunner in 1908. By 1909 a new bridge was built
to replace the oak unit that had washed away.
Hurricane Diane in 1955 destroyed the newly constructed bridge and wouldn't
be until 1956 would replace that one. That bridge stood for fourteen years
until a vandal decided to dynamite it on June 20,1969. Once again the
bridge was rebuilt and it became a part of Congress's newly ordained Minute
Man National Historic Park.
Who would have thought that a bridge that was a focal point for our American
Independence couldn't stand until the present day without difficulty.
Perhaps it serves as a symbol for perseverance and the idea that our independence
can endure anything.
All the information on this webpage came from this site:
http://www.concordma.com/magazine/nov98/bridge.html
For additional information checkout these sites:
http://www.concordma.com/features/then%26now/monument.html
http://www.kennedystudios.net/oldnorthbridge.html
http://www.wpi.edu/Academics/Depts/MilSci/BTSI/Lexcon/nbridge.html