http://www.victorianwillimantic.org/www.VictorianWillimantic.org/Bridge_Dedication.html The narrow stone arch bridge was built in 1857 by Lyman Jordan and Nathaniel Olin. The Bridge never had a consistant name but has been called South Main Street Bridge, Jillson Hill Bridge, the Lower Bridge and Windham Road Bridge. The stone arch replaced an earlier wooden bridge that was adjacent to an iron forge and was known as the Iron Works Bridge. That earlier bridge was destroyed by a flood in 1771 and rebuilt. In 1857 the new stone arch cost $3,200 to build and was paid for by the Willimantic Linen Co. (Willimantic Thread) and an eight percent tax hike on the town’s richest citizens. In 1903 the trolley tracks were laid over the bridge which added to the conjestion. In 1907 the Townspeople wanted to widen the bridge, but this idea was rejected in favor of planning for a new bridge. Ninety years later the “Thread City Crossing” Bridge was dedicated, thus resulting in the October 22nd, 2006 dedication of the Windham Garden on the Bridge. http://www.victorianwillimantic.org/www.VictorianWillimantic.org/Bridge_Dedication.html#0 719c7d3e-36e7-493f-acc5-22a1a5c608e7 http://www.victorianwillimantic.org/www.VictorianWillimantic.org/Bridge_Dedication_files/Media/100_9412/thumb.jpg http://www.victorianwillimantic.org/www.VictorianWillimantic.org/Bridge_Dedication_files/Media/100_9412/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="paragraph_style_1">The Bridge</p></div></div> http://www.victorianwillimantic.org/www.VictorianWillimantic.org/Bridge_Dedication.html#1 2023a9ba-6de9-4aeb-88db-c37851a3b990 http://www.victorianwillimantic.org/www.VictorianWillimantic.org/Bridge_Dedication_files/Media/100_9651/thumb.jpg http://www.victorianwillimantic.org/www.VictorianWillimantic.org/Bridge_Dedication_files/Media/100_9651/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="paragraph_style_1">Michael Paulhus,            First Selectman</p></div></div> http://www.victorianwillimantic.org/www.VictorianWillimantic.org/Bridge_Dedication.html#2 e5877b44-1e87-4885-96c5-1d18d1b92172 http://www.victorianwillimantic.org/www.VictorianWillimantic.org/Bridge_Dedication_files/Media/100_9656/thumb.jpg http://www.victorianwillimantic.org/www.VictorianWillimantic.org/Bridge_Dedication_files/Media/100_9656/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="paragraph_style_1">Walter Pawelkiewicz, State Representative</p></div></div> http://www.victorianwillimantic.org/www.VictorianWillimantic.org/Bridge_Dedication.html#3 3748db47-d5fd-467c-ae1d-8a84f5fde8ec http://www.victorianwillimantic.org/www.VictorianWillimantic.org/Bridge_Dedication_files/Media/100_9663/thumb.jpg http://www.victorianwillimantic.org/www.VictorianWillimantic.org/Bridge_Dedication_files/Media/100_9663/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="paragraph_style_1">Garden Club President Kathy Mangiafico</p></div></div> http://www.victorianwillimantic.org/www.VictorianWillimantic.org/Bridge_Dedication.html#4 f815c036-0523-4450-9f2c-4b4522a2f3ba http://www.victorianwillimantic.org/www.VictorianWillimantic.org/Bridge_Dedication_files/Media/100_9658/thumb.jpg http://www.victorianwillimantic.org/www.VictorianWillimantic.org/Bridge_Dedication_files/Media/100_9658/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="paragraph_style_1">The Bridge Planning Committee</p></div></div> http://www.victorianwillimantic.org/www.VictorianWillimantic.org/Bridge_Dedication.html#5 969ed493-6485-48a5-81ab-dfedcbb73087 http://www.victorianwillimantic.org/www.VictorianWillimantic.org/Bridge_Dedication_files/Media/100_9653/thumb.jpg http://www.victorianwillimantic.org/www.VictorianWillimantic.org/Bridge_Dedication_files/Media/100_9653/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="paragraph_style_1">Appreciation to Martha &amp; Ethan Darrow</p></div></div> http://www.victorianwillimantic.org/www.VictorianWillimantic.org/Bridge_Dedication.html#6 86db67a2-056d-4784-b72c-ea93e6f2f905 http://www.victorianwillimantic.org/www.VictorianWillimantic.org/Bridge_Dedication_files/Media/100_9681/thumb.jpg http://www.victorianwillimantic.org/www.VictorianWillimantic.org/Bridge_Dedication_files/Media/100_9681/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="paragraph_style_1">Official Ribbon Cutting</p></div></div> http://www.victorianwillimantic.org/www.VictorianWillimantic.org/Bridge_Dedication.html#7 921a068f-f0c5-4233-ba6a-97f40eeb8bad http://www.victorianwillimantic.org/www.VictorianWillimantic.org/Bridge_Dedication_files/Media/100_9693/thumb.jpg http://www.victorianwillimantic.org/www.VictorianWillimantic.org/Bridge_Dedication_files/Media/100_9693/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="paragraph_style_1">Dedication Cake</p></div></div> http://www.victorianwillimantic.org/www.VictorianWillimantic.org/Bridge_Dedication.html#8 cd5489c6-5236-4558-b4bd-3af5f008225f http://www.victorianwillimantic.org/www.VictorianWillimantic.org/Bridge_Dedication_files/Media/100_9692/thumb.jpg http://www.victorianwillimantic.org/www.VictorianWillimantic.org/Bridge_Dedication_files/Media/100_9692/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="paragraph_style_1">Bev York &amp; Mary Brown</p></div></div> http://www.victorianwillimantic.org/www.VictorianWillimantic.org/Bridge_Dedication.html#9 b5586e05-2267-4497-ac70-b7deba045860 http://www.victorianwillimantic.org/www.VictorianWillimantic.org/Bridge_Dedication_files/Media/100_9699/thumb.jpg http://www.victorianwillimantic.org/www.VictorianWillimantic.org/Bridge_Dedication_files/Media/100_9699/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="paragraph_style_1">Pam Horrocks  &amp; Annie Cronin </p></div></div> http://www.victorianwillimantic.org/www.VictorianWillimantic.org/Bridge_Dedication.html#10 506c3fb0-62dd-4b5f-b44e-0af9ca486e50 http://www.victorianwillimantic.org/www.VictorianWillimantic.org/Bridge_Dedication_files/Media/100_9706/thumb.jpg http://www.victorianwillimantic.org/www.VictorianWillimantic.org/Bridge_Dedication_files/Media/100_9706/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="paragraph_style_1">Willimantic Amphibian Jazz Ensemble</p></div></div> http://www.victorianwillimantic.org/www.VictorianWillimantic.org/Bridge_Dedication.html#11 d0c5221e-12d9-4d62-a3c4-dcdb81c19ebf http://www.victorianwillimantic.org/www.VictorianWillimantic.org/Bridge_Dedication_files/Media/100_9704/thumb.jpg http://www.victorianwillimantic.org/www.VictorianWillimantic.org/Bridge_Dedication_files/Media/100_9704/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="paragraph_style_1">The Bev York Exhibit Room</p></div></div> http://www.victorianwillimantic.org/www.VictorianWillimantic.org/Bridge_Dedication.html#12 687170d6-8253-44bb-9df7-adbbe257d1db http://www.victorianwillimantic.org/www.VictorianWillimantic.org/Bridge_Dedication_files/Media/100_9715/thumb.jpg http://www.victorianwillimantic.org/www.VictorianWillimantic.org/Bridge_Dedication_files/Media/100_9715/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="paragraph_style_1">Bev was delighted to be honored</p></div></div> http://www.victorianwillimantic.org/www.VictorianWillimantic.org/Bridge_Dedication.html#13 44a3b3a4-8d32-4a95-b8f2-a3337a84c80e http://www.victorianwillimantic.org/www.VictorianWillimantic.org/Bridge_Dedication_files/Media/100_9718/thumb.jpg http://www.victorianwillimantic.org/www.VictorianWillimantic.org/Bridge_Dedication_files/Media/100_9718/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="paragraph_style_1">Wine Reception at the Thread Mill Museum</p></div></div> http://www.victorianwillimantic.org/www.VictorianWillimantic.org/Bridge_Dedication.html#14 a91048bf-5783-4064-8974-6e5db612f13e http://www.victorianwillimantic.org/www.VictorianWillimantic.org/Bridge_Dedication_files/Media/100_9679/thumb.jpg http://www.victorianwillimantic.org/www.VictorianWillimantic.org/Bridge_Dedication_files/Media/100_9679/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="paragraph_style_1">Well Wishers</p></div></div> http://www.victorianwillimantic.org/www.VictorianWillimantic.org/Bridge_Dedication.html#15 9780a0fe-000d-4e6c-b3d9-789c28d1686e http://www.victorianwillimantic.org/www.VictorianWillimantic.org/Bridge_Dedication_files/Media/100_9405/thumb.jpg http://www.victorianwillimantic.org/www.VictorianWillimantic.org/Bridge_Dedication_files/Media/100_9405/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"/></div> http://www.victorianwillimantic.org/www.VictorianWillimantic.org/Bridge_Dedication.html#16 e776d0f3-8558-45c8-94ab-9b40c19fe574 http://www.victorianwillimantic.org/www.VictorianWillimantic.org/Bridge_Dedication_files/Media/100_9408/thumb.jpg http://www.victorianwillimantic.org/www.VictorianWillimantic.org/Bridge_Dedication_files/Media/100_9408/micro.jpg <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"/></div>