Description: Ye-Olde Photos Collection Boston, Massachusetts - Charlestown Railroad Bridge / Charlestown Bridge "Charlestown Bridge from rear of moving elevator train after crossing Charles River - Oct. 15, 1957, Boston side" The first government-sanctioned ferry crossing of the Charles was chartered at this location in the 1630s. It was operated by various individuals until it was given to Harvard College "in perpetuity" in 1640, to support the college financially. In 1640, the Massachusetts General Court granted Harvard College the revenue from the Boston-Charlestown ferry to help support the institution. The Harvard Corporation in its capacity managed the Charlestown ferry from the 1640s until 1785, and after the completion of the Charles River Bridge in 1785. The first bridge on this site was known as the Charles River Bridge, chartered in 1785 and opened on June 17, 1786. As a condition of chartering the bridge, a sum of £200 was paid annually to Harvard College to compensate for the lost ferry income. The bridge was privately built and operated, with tolls producing profits for the investors during the charter period, after the initial expense was paid off. In 1792, the West Boston Bridge was chartered, connecting West Boston to Cambridge. In compensation, the legislature extended the charter period of the Charles River Bridge by 30 years, but the unpopular double tolls on Sundays were eliminated. Traffic to the bridge was facilitated by the laying out of the Medford Turnpike in 1803. When the Warren Bridge was chartered in 1828 in a location extremely close to the Charles River Bridge, the investors filed a lawsuit which eventually reached the United States Supreme Court as Charles River Bridge v. Warren Bridge. The bridge that stood into the 21st century was built in 1900 under chief engineer William Jackson, and was designed to carry the Charlestown Elevated railway in addition to vehicle traffic. The railway was demolished in 1975 to make way for its replacement, the MBTA Orange Line's Haymarket North Extension. The new line was rerouted to avoid having to pass directly through the densely populated Charlestown neighborhood. The Haymarket Tunnel, emerging from under both North Station and the Charles River just south of the new Orange Line Community College station, was inaugurated in 1975 as the designated tunnel for Orange Line trains. Because the bridge was originally designed to accommodate an elevated railroad in addition to automobiles, the bridge spanned six lanes. In 2003, the center two lanes were permanently closed. The bridge formerly carried the southernmost stretch of Massachusetts Route 99 to its terminus at the river, but following completion of the Big Dig in the late 2000s, the route's designation was changed to relocate the terminus to Chelsea Street in Charlestown This is a stunning photograph of the Boston Massachusetts Charlestown Bridge Railroad in 1957. The image captures the essence of the station and its surroundings, making it a great addition to any collection. The photograph is of high quality and is perfect for anyone interested in transportation and railroadiana in Suffolk County Mass. Ma. The image is a Type 1 photo and is sure to impress anyone who sees it. It is a great piece of history and would make a wonderful conversation starter. This photograph is perfect for collectors or anyone who appreciates the beauty of vintage transportation memorabilia.
Price: 30 USD
Location: Stoughton, Massachusetts
End Time: 2024-11-18T22:33:41.000Z
Shipping Cost: 5 USD
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