HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1979-06-28, Page 39When the Patterson Bridge was built, it was called the best
bridge In Huron County. It has held up against the flooding that
took so many other bridges before it.
The bridg
The Maitland
always put up a fight
Auburn has seen many
bridges come and go as
the Maitland River rises
and falls.
In the 1860's, before the
first bridge was con-
structed, Eneas Elkin
took settlers back and
forth across the river by
boat.
They made the first
bridge almost entirely
out of wood, but it was
built too low and the first
high spring flood washed
it away. A higher wooden
bridge was then built, but
there was no rock to base
it on and it, too, washed
" The next bridge was
. made partly of steel with
the eastern approae-h
constructed .of wood. A
pile-driver was used to
sink the foundations in
order to reach the deep
rock base. This bridge
lasted for many years,
but finally the banks wore
away and it had to be
reinforced.
There was an extra
high spring flood in 1910
and the piers partly gave
away, making another
costly repair job
• necessary. A board walk
below the bridge with a
wire railing was used to
cross the river while the
bridge was being
repaired:
In the early 1950's, the
old bridge became too
unsuitable to ac-
commodate the heavy
volume of traffic on
County'Road 25. The new
bridge was designed by
Peter D. Patterson,
county engineer from
1952-56. It was con-
structed by county
foreman John Snell in
1954.
Because ' they located
the new bridge 60 rods•
upstream from the old
site, it was necessary to
cut down, Lawlor's hill
and change the route of
Maitland Crescent to
avoid the steep winding
grade up into the village.
When the bridge was
partly built, rains came
and again the Maitland
rose so high that they
feared the new work
would be in vain. But no
harm came to the bridge.
The 360 -foot bridge was
a four span continuous
concrete beam with a
;even and one half inch
.hick reinforced concrete
leek. The total cost of
,:onstructing the bridge
and connecting roadways
was $255,500. It was
considered the best
bridge in Huron:County.
The bridge was of-
ficially named, Patterson
Bridge in memory of T.
Roy Patterson, the father
of the designer and Huron
County engineer from
1919 until his death in
1951. His widow unveiled
a plaque, cut the ribbon
and declared the bridge
open on December 30,
1954.
CONGRATU LATIONS
from
HELM
WELDING LTD.
Manufacturers of
LUCKNOW SNOW BLOWERS
BULK FEED TANKS
LUCKNOW
5297627
PAGES
The old
and
the new
CONGRATULATIONS
AUBURN ON YOUR 125th
AND A WARM AND HARDY
WELCOME
TO ALL
HOME—
COMERS!
While you're back in
the old neighbourhood,
why not
COME AND SEE
OUR MOBILE
HOME VILLAGE
164 ACRES OF COUNTRY STYLE LIVING WITH
1,400 FT. OF BEACH FRONTAGE
Our economical, Maintenance free homes make for easy
$ living. Our village makes for comfortable surroundings'
tool Consider us for your Retirement Retreat, Year-round
econd Residence or Vacation Haven.
on't pay any more,
Low down payment and
easy
terms. Free
anymore
delivery within 100 miles or, there's lots of
room at our place!
UPON HAVEN HOMES
HURON HAVEN VILLAGE
3 Miles North of Goderich on Hwy. 21 524-6384
WE HAVE A HOME TO SUIT YOUR NEEDS