Opening of the Carlton Bridge - A Unique View
The Carlton Bridge, which crosses the Kennebec River at Bath and Woolwich, opened in stages. First, the lower deck opened to train traffic on October 27th, 1927. Then, a few weeks later to vehicular and pedestrian traffic on November 15th. (It was officially dedicated in a grand ceremony the following year on July 2nd, 1928.) Views of the Bridge in those early days capture the excitement, the marvel. Still, it’s hard to imagine how much easier some aspects of life became, how much opportunity opened up for those living and doing business in the Bath area. Except for the ferry captains, of course.
This view (below) of the November 1927 opening of the upper deck offers a unique perspective. The beautiful “Indian summer” weather brought out the crowds in Bath. The photo centers Governor Ralph O. Brewster (at left) and 12-year-old Geraldine Stott, the day’s “heroine” and the granddaughter of the Bridge’s champion, former State Senator Frank W. Carlton. Perhaps the photo shows the moment (after the men removed their hats) when Governor Brewster handed Miss Stott a bouquet of American Beauty roses. Perhaps Miss Stott, shortly, will put the flowers aside and take up a pair of silver scissors and cut the red, white and blue silk cord. Then the crowd of 4,000 will press forward and walk across, followed by hundreds of automobiles with the Governor’s sedan in the lead. Read more about the day in the The Bath Daily Times evening edition from that day (below).
In the background is the Harbor View Hotel (also known as the Eagle Hotel) and its majestic elm tree, on the northwest corner of Front and Vine Streets. Both the hotel and the tree survived the many changes made in building the approach to the bridge.
Black & white photograph, 7” x 5”, depicting a crowd of people watching Governor Ralph Brewster and Miss Geraldine Stott (granddaughter of former State Senator Frank W. Carlton) prepare to cut the ribbon for the opening of the Carlton Bridge in 1927; the Harbor View Hotel in background. Bath Historical Society Collections. BHS2010.7
The Bath Daily Times front page, Tuesday, November 15th, 1927.
