Echo Bridge

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Echo Bridge
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Echo Bridge from the north
Location:	Spans the Charles River between Newton and Needham, Massachusetts
Coordinates:	42°18′52.61″N 71°13′39.25″W / 42.3146139, -71.2275694Coordinates: 42°18′52.61″N 71°13′39.25″W / 42.3146139, -71.2275694
Built/Founded:	1876
Architect:	Phelps,George W.
Architectural style(s):	No Style Listed
Added to NRHP:	April 09, 1980
NRHP Reference#:	80000638 [1]
Governing body:	State

Echo Bridge was built to carry an aqueduct over the Charles River in Newton Upper Falls, Massachusetts. The aqueduct carried water from the Sudbury River to Boston. Construction of Echo Bridge began in 1875 and was completed in 1877 by Boston Water Works (BWW). At the time, it was the second longest masonry arch in the country. The bridge was named an American Water Landmark in 1981. On April 9, 1980, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

The aqueduct is no longer in use, but is maintained as a reserve backup by the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority.

Contents 1 National Register listing 2 Description 3 References 4 See also 5 External links

[edit] National Register listing

• Echo Bridge
• (added 1980 - Structure - #80000638)
• Spans Charles River, Newton
• Historic Significance: Architecture/Engineering, Event
• Architect, builder, or engineer: Phelps,George W.
• Architectural Style: No Style Listed
• Area of Significance: Architecture, Conservation, Engineering, Community Planning And Development
• Period of Significance: 1875-1899
• Owner: State
• Historic Function: Transportation
• Historic Sub-function: Water-Related
• Current Function: Vacant/Not In Use, Work In Progress

[edit] Description

The bridge crosses over Hemlock Gorge where the Charles River passes over the fall line in Newton Upper Falls. There are still old mill buildings in view from the bridge, but most of the gorge remains naturally overgrown with hemlocks. The bridge has two viewing locations, the pedestrian walk on top of the bridge and a platform underneath where visitors can hear the eponymous echoes. Views include white water, a waterfall and the hemlock-lined gorge. The 29-acre park including the gorge is maintained by the commonwealth Department of Urban Parks and Recreation.

The bridge is located just off Route 9 where it crosses Route 128. Despite being in the midst of a tangle of highways (a major interchange of the Massachusetts Turnpike is also nearby), the river itself is tree-lined and natural.

Echo Bridge underwent extensive renovations in 2006 and was closed to the public for much of the year; it has been reopened.

[edit] References

[edit] See also

• List of Registered Historic Places in Newton, Massachusetts

[edit] External links

• The Friends of Hemlock Gorge
• Hemlock Gorge Reservation
• Echo Bridge in the Structurae database

v • d • e U.S. National Register of Historic Places Keeper of the Register · History of the National Register of Historic Places · Property types · Historic district · Contributing property List of entries National Park Service · National Historic Landmarks · National Battlefields · National Historic Sites · National Historical Parks · National Memorials · National Monuments

This article about a Registered Historic Place in Massachusetts is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.