Picture Vernon: Bridge Between Past And Present

VERNON, CT — The latest installment of the Picture Vernon series takes us to the end of Main Street in the historic Talcottville section of town. It's the bridge over the Tankerhoosen River that was built in 2021 inside the boundaries of its historic predecessor.

The original 58-foot long elliptical truss bridge was constructed in 1891 by the Berlin Iron Bridge Company. According t0 Vernon Town Engineer David Smith, the old Main Street bridge was an example of what was once a common design when replacing wooden bridges. Prior to the renovations, Vernon's bridge was one of just a few Berlin Iron bridges still being used.

Part of the old bridge still remains around the new span. The original stonework was preserved and the old iron work was cleaned and painted. A single traffic lane and an area for pedestrians are included on the new bridge.

The project cost $1.7 million with 80 percent covered by the the federal Local Bridge Program, administered by the Connecticut Department of Transportation. The remaining 20 percent was picked up by the town of Vernon.

The bridge is a link to two historic homes that still grace the area, but absent from the scene is the old Warburton Inn. It stood at the end of Main Street, just before the pond, and was originally quarters for mill workers before being converted to an inn for travelers. An ice house stood behind the hotel to store block harvested from the pond. The inn fell into disrepair and had to be dismantled in 1962.

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Picture Vernon is a periodic series featuring images of the town, past and present.