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Arthur Smith or Willis Place, Franklin County

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Inventory Number: MA/21-06-03x
County: Franklin County
Township: Colrain
Town/Village:
Bridge Name: Arthur Smith or Willis Place
Crosses: North River
Truss type: Burr
Spans: 1
Length: 98'
Roadway Width:
Built: 1870 (M1896)
Builder:
When Lost: 2006
Cause: Razed
Latitude: N42 40.196
Longitude: W072 43.093
See a map of the area
Topographic map of the area
Directions: 1.2 miles southwest of Colrain town green on MA112, then 0.1 miles right on Lyonville Rd.

Arthur Smith or Willis Place Bridge, Colrain, Franklin County, MA Built 1870 Dismantled 2006
Richard E. Roy Collection

Arthur Smith or Willis Place Bridge, Colrain, Franklin County, MA Built 1870 Dismantled 2006
William Maxant Photo, October 28, 1991, Harvard (MA) Historical Society

Arthur Smith or Willis Place Bridge, Colrain, Franklin County, MA Built 1870 Dismantled 2006
William Maxant Photo, January 1972, Harvard (MA) Historical Society

Arthur Smith or Willis Place Bridge, Colrain, Franklin County, MA Built 1870 Dismantled 2006
William Maxant Photo 1939, Harvard (MA) Historical Society

Comments:
According to the National Register nomination form, the previous bridge at this location was originally built over the North River between Shattuckville and Griswoldville where it was known as the Fox-Temple Bridge (MA/21-06-13). It was abandoned shortly after 1890 when the main road from Shelburne Falls to Colrain was routed along the west side of Temple Farm to Griswoldville. In 1895 or 1896, the open bridge at Lyonsville collapsed under the weight of a herd of cattle being driven across by Arthur Smith’s hired hand. The town fathers decided to move the abandoned Fox Bridge. The pieces were numbered and the bridge dismantled, moved and re-erected at the new site where it became known as the Arthur A. Smith Bridge (MA/21-06-03). In 1920, laminated arches were added to strengthen the span so that the Carey Cider and Vinegar Company could transport heavier loads of vinegar from its mill to the railroad station. It was extensively repaired in 1955-1956 and closed to traffic in 1981 due to its badly deteriorated condition. The bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places on February 3, 1983. Arnold Graton and his crew braced the bridge, and using a team of oxen, removed it from its abutments on Sunday, September 16, 1991 placing it between two corn fields at the end of Lyonsville Road while money was raised for its repair and relocation back over the river. Unfortunately, it continued to deteriorate during the 25 years that it sat in the cornfield until little suitable material remained. On October 19, 2005, the Greenfield Reporter noted that Northern Construction Service of Weymouth, Massachusetts had been contracted to reconstruct the bridge at a cost of about $2.1 million. They estimated that only about 30% of the original timber could be reused including some of the truss material, much of the roof framing and the slate shingles. The new span was completed in 2006. It was originally only open to pedestrian traffic but after years of debate, was opened to vehicular travel in Fall 2020. Arthur Alan Smith was born in the family farmstead adjacent to the North River on December 19, 1841. He served in the Civil War attaining the rank of captain. After the war he moved to Alabama and became active in community affairs. He returned to the family home in the 1870s and served in various capacities as a school board member, tax assessor; and Commander of the G.A.R. in Massachusetts. He died in Colrain on March 21, 1907.

Sources:
The Greenfield Recorder, Wednesday, October 19, 2005,·page 5.
Evans, Benjamin D. & June R.. New England's Covered Bridges, 2004, pages 64-65
Burk, John. Covered Bridges of Massachusetts, 2010, Pages 51-53

Compilation 2026 Covered Spans of Yesteryear

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