DeSorgher: Cross That Bridge When You Get to It

Clearly, the Charles River has been an important geographical feature throughout Medfield’s history. 

In the very beginnings of our history, up until 1713, when Medway broke away from us, the land on the west side of the Charles River, what is now Millis and Medway, was also part of Medfield.

In those early years, the bridges spanning the Charles River were extremely important, as they served as the connector keeping the two parts of Medfield together. The earliest maps show three primitive bridges crossing the Charles River; one called The Great Bridge, at what is today Bridge Street, Medfield and Dover Road, Millis, one crossing the Charles near the current Route 27 Bridge between Medfield and Sherborn and one crossing at Dwight Street, off Causeway Street, connecting Dwight Street, Medfield with Dwight Street, Millis.  

In 1653, the bridge over Stop River on Noon Hill Street was built. It gave access to John Frairy’s meadow. That bridge on Noon Hill Street, still bears the name Frairy’s Bridge. In 1655, John Thurston was given permission to build a bridge over Stop River on South Street, near the Norfolk town line, which at that time belonged to Dedham. Today, that bridge just before Indian Hill Road bears the name Thurston’s Bridge.

As there were no swimming lessons given, as we have today, most people in Colonial times did not know how to swim. This resulted in numerous drowning cases when people tried to cross the Charles River where no bridge existed. Many tried to cross in canoes, which often capsized. As a precaution, by law, no person in Medfield was to make, or have, any canoe, in any pond, brook or river, except allowed by vote of the selectmen, under penalty of 10 shilling fine.

In 1668, early town records show that a bridge existed over South Street, crossing Nantasket Brook, which flows from east of the town center, past the high school, across Philip and South Streets, into Kingsbury Pond, across Spring Street and into Stop River.

In 1672, a bridge was built over the North Brook, which today crosses Harding Street near the railroad tracks.

During the Indian attack on Medfield on Feb. 21, 1676, the Native-Americans, under the leadership of Monaco, burnt all three bridges leading over the Charles River when they fled the town after burning half of the houses and outbuildings. On the bridge to Sherborn, the Native-American, known as James-the-Printer, left a note on the ruined bridge warning the settlers: the note reads as follows:

       “Know by this paper that the Indians that thou hast provoked to wrath and anger will war these twenty-one years, if you will. There are many Indians yet. We come three hundred at this time. You must consider that The Indians loose nothing but their lives, you must loose your fair houses and cattle.”

 In 1806, the bridge now connecting Medfield and Millis at Route 109 was built. Main Street at the time ended at Bridge Street, with the road continuing along Bridge Street and over the Charles River near the present Bridge Street/Dover Road bridge and on into Medway and points west.

In 1806, the Boston and Hartford Turnpike was built, connecting Dedham with Hartford, Conn. via stagecoaches. A new causeway with bridges was built at what is now Route 109.

The area was known as the Willows, as numerous willow trees were planted on both sides of the area from Bridge Street to the Charles River; after many years the willows formed a canopy over the road, becoming one of the most beautiful spots in the area. A toll gate was placed at Bridge Street and those wishing to take the quicker way over the turnpike bridge were required to pay a toll.

After about 20 years, the turnpike corporation went out of business, the toll gate was removed and that section of Main Street from Bridge Street to the Millis town line became a town road. Today, the bridge is still called Turnpike Bridge. Over the years, several replacement bridges were built as Route 109 was widened and absorbed more and more traffic. From 1899 until 1924 the trolley also ran through Medfield running from Dedham through Medfield on to Mendon, Franklin and down to Providence, R.I.

So that the trolley tracks would not destroy the beautiful and famous “willows,” instead of running over Turnpike Bridge, a trestle was built alongside Main Street and to the north of the road and the bridge over the Charles River and into Millis.

The bridge to Sherborn  was known as Death's Bridge, after Death family that lived there on the Sherborn side of the Charles River. The current bridge, which takes Route 27 from Medfield into Sherborn is a 1965 construction by the Commonwealth and replaced the original bridge, which stood a short distance up the river.

The original Death's Bridge was the spot that James-the-Printer chose to pin his infamous note after the attack on Medfield during the King Philip War. That bridge was rebuilt after the war, and was kept in repair and not completely rebuilt until 1915.

At that time a plaque commemorating the historic spot was made a part of the bridge. When Route 27 was re-routed and the current bridge was built, the old bridge was demolished. Today, the old fieldstone abutments are all that remain and are visible from the present bridge. In the 19th century, the Death family, for obvious reasons, changed their name to Dearth and so the bridge was also sometimes called Dearth’s Bridge.

 The following are the names given to Medfield Bridges:

Ellis’ Bridge – also called the Upper Bridge, connects Orchard Street, Medfield with Farm Street, Millis over the Charles River. Its name comes from the Ellis family, which for many years lived just to the north-east of it. Many in Millis called it Lovell’s Bridge, due to the Lovell family living near it on the Millis side.

Dwight’s Bridge - Over the Charles River off Causeway Street on Dwight Street. This was so named and built so Timothy Dwight could get to land he owned in the area. This bridge was washed out in the Great 1936 Flood and never rebuilt.

Turnpike Bridge - Over the Charles River along Route 109 connecting Medfield and Millis. It was named after the old Boston and Hartford Turnpike, which originally built and maintained the bridge.

Brastow Bridge - Over the Charles River on Bridge Street, near the present Waste Water Treatment Plant. It was originally called the Great Bridge in Colonial days and then obtained the name Brastow Bridge after Colonel Brastow, who lived nearby. After Brastow land became the town’s poor farm, it was called Poor Farm Bridge.

Death(Dearth) Bridge – Over the Charles River, connecting Medfield and Sherborn. The Death family lived just beyond it in Sherborn. Later, family members changed their name to Dearth. In 1965 the road (Route 27) was changed and a new bridge was built a little to the east and the old bridge was demolished.

Thurston’s Bridge - Over Stop River on South Street near Indian Hill Road and the Norfolk town line. The Thurston’s owned land just beyond Stop River at the founding of the town and the bridge was built for their use.

Frairy’s Bridge - Over Stop River on Noon Hill Street. John Frairy was the first owner of the meadows on the west side of Stop River. This bridge was built for his account.