AtStone Farm, we’re constantly seeking out potential reclamations that will yield antique stone like beautiful granite wall blocks. So, we were beyond excited when we were approached about he Charlestown Bridge (also known as the North Washington Street Bridge) in Boston. Old dimensional stone blocks aren’t easy to find, and this bridge had thousands of them. To better understand our excitement, let’s take a step back and learn more about this iconic bridge’s history.
MAKING CONNECTIONS
Built in 1900 to meet the needs of Boston’s growing population, the bridge connected Charlestown to Boston’s north end. At the same time, it connected past and future with technological advancements such as elevated train tracks and a swinging center section for river traffic. Finally, it connected the city’s citizens and visitors to its history as part of the famous Freedom Trail – a journey past many of Boston’s iconic landmarks. Marked by a prominent red brick line winding through the city, the trail’s bricks turned to red paint as it crossed over the bridge to it’s final landmarks – the USS Constitution and Bunker Hill Memorial.
PIER AFTER PIER OF GRANITE WALL BLOCKS
This 120 year old bridge spanned 11 concrete piers, each of which was faced with blocks of granite. Extracted from renowned New England quarries on Cape Ann, Quincy, MA, and as far as Vinalhaven, Maine, these blocks were expertly worked by masons and stood for over a century as the Charlestown’s first line of defense against the harsh local climate.
Once it was decided that a new span-more capable of carrying on the responsibility as a main transportation hub would replace the Charlestown bridge, Stone Farm quickly began assessing its granite wall blocks for a possible reclamation. We determined that, not only were there hundreds of blocks we could salvage, but dozens of rounded ice-breakers that stood at ends of the piers as well.
RECLAIMING THE CHARLESTOWN’S GRANITE WALL BLOCKS
As the bridge was carefully dismantled, the granite wall blocks and icebreakers were organized and prepared for shipment. Some were sent directly to their new homes for use as retaining walls, bench blocks and more. Others were trucked to our yard, where they’ve proven a popular choice for repurposing in new applications.
As we continue to source for granite wall block, we hope to share new stories which equal the incredible history and significance of the Charlestown bridge. Sign up for our Farm Fresh Finds updates, where we first announce new reclamations, if you’d like learn about them before they’re posted on our website.
