Woronoco Bridge and Westfield Eiver , Woronoco, Mass.
Woronoco Bridge and Westfield River, Woronoco, Mass.  (Image courtesy of William Byran)


"This image is the bridge that eventually replaced the one in your picture. It was made of concrete. This is the bridge that is now closed. There is quite a story behind how Horace obtained the money to build this bridge. The second mill (known as the Number 2 Mill) was constructed in 1913 as was considered one of the most modern in the country. This was the mill my Dad worked in when we lived in Woronoco. The "new" bridge was tested during a terrific hurricane and flood on September 21, 1938. Several homes on the East side of the river were damaged or destroyed and the hydro plant in your postcard was severely damaged.(William Byran, March 2002)

Memories From a reader!"My Dad Kenneth A. Sheridan was asst. superintendent 1930 then superintendent of that Mill. He made rag paper --art paper --the good stuff. We lived in a mill house there in the fifties until I was about six. It was actually nice --had big rooms and big screened in porch. Big porch on the second floor too. It was on the side of a mountain. The porcupines drove our dog nuts. There was a flood there when I was little around ??1955--my Dad had to dig all night -- a trench around the house so that the water coming off the mountain would not wash the house away. There was a stream by the house but it turned into a raging river during the flood . I remember going down to the river with my father and seeing houses floating in it. They had to airlift food to us because the road was washed out. There was some sort of meeting hall in town and they had recreational activities for families there . I remember learning the "Hokie Pokey--turn yourself around" there. When they were blasting for the Turnpike it used to shake the house like crazy and broke some of Mom's crystal. We moved out of town in 1956. The house is gone--the turnpike went over it--but I think my sister said the cement steps up to the house are still there. I remember going over that bridge. Too bad they couldn't save it. (Mary Ellen Patton nee Sheridan Davis, CA)"2002 "


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Copyright©Shirley Bruso 2002.