Caledonia Bridge - A Part Of Our History
When you think of the Caledonia bridge, you might see it as just an old bridge. Others in the community think of it as a tourist attraction. If you type 'Caledonia Bridge' in a search engine you will find that it will show hundreds of articles and pictures. The Caledonia bridge is not just a bridge; it's what makes our town unique. If the bridge is demolished, which might happen in the future, Caledonia could end up with a five span metal arch bridge, but we will be short a huge chunk of our history and heritage.
The first bridge to cross the river was a wooden structure, one lane with no sidewalks. It was built in 1842. Caledonia's founder, Ranald McKinnon, proposed the idea of the bridge crossing in Caledonia, which meant that the Plank Road from Hamilton to Port Dover would go through the town. The wooden bridge lasted 19 years, until the ice on the river broke it in the thaw of 1861. The ice broke and took the wooden bridge as far down the river as Cayuga! From the time of the wooden bridge's collapse in 1861 until 1874 there were temporary bridges built to connect the two sides of town, but it wasn't until 1875 that plans for a new bridge were made.
The new bridge would be built of iron. It was built in the same place as the wooden one, had a wooden floor, a wooden wall on either side for protection and a sidewalk on one side. The iron was manufactured at Scott's Foundry, beside Edinburgh Square. The wood was cut at Ranald McKinnon's saw mill. A toll house was built to pay off the construction cost of more than $22,000. The bridge had a large iron gate at the North side, so that the people crossing could pay the toll. According to local historian Les Richardson, there was often a problem for kids crossing the bridge. The high school kids would body check the elementary school kids into the wooden wall, so for safety, the elementary school kids were let out of class 15 minutes earlier each day to avoid the older students. The town ran electric, gas and phone lines under the bridge in the early 1900's. The iron bridge lasted until 1925, when a truck carrying a load of rocks collapsed a span of the bridge. Timber and metal were flying all over the place. There was a group of kids swimming under the span at the time of collapse and the truck driver saved the lives of over five children. The gas line was damaged, and there was fear of an explosion. In just three months, a new span was built, but the iron bridge had seen better days.
In 1926 plans for a new steel re-enforced concrete arch bridge were made. The iron bridge was torn down and in just 140 working days the bridge was complete. It was a nine-span rainbow arch bridge. It had paved floors, and a sidewalk on either side. Hydro, gas, and phone lines were run under the bridge again. A toll was not paid to cross the bridge. A two-day party was held to welcome the new bridge into the community. After a ribbon cutting ceremony at the bridge, a parade marched to the opera house to hear the politicians views of the new bridge. All the big wigs went over to the Union Hotel for drinks after the crowd had left the opera house and partied on through the night. As traffic grew heavier over the years, major repairs were needed in 1980 to strengthen the spans. The concrete bridge has now stood the longest of the three bridges in Caledonia, but will it stay standing much longer?
Over the past few years, there has been much discussion about replacement of the Caledonia Bridge. Many people in the town would like to see the bridge kept as it is. This year, from April to November, the bridge will be closed to undergo repairs to its foundation and structure. One lane will be open, from the South side to the North side only for vehicle traffic. Pedestrian traffic will be allowed both ways. If the bridge is demolished in a few years, the huge amount of money spent on repairs this year will have been a waste. The Ministry of Transportation, with the approval of Haldimand County, recommends replacing the current bridge with a five span steel arch bridge carrying three lanes of traffic over the river. During construction, you will have to drive all the way around town to the by-pass in order to get from one side to the other. Not only will it slow tourism down drastically, it will destroy one of the town's most vivid landmarks.
The Caledonia Bridge is listed in the Ontario Heritage Bridge program, and the Grand River is a designated heritage river. Caledonia has changed over the years, but the biggest change we might have to put up with is a long period of construction that destroys our towns most recognized landmark-the only nine span bridge in Canada. Part of our history, part of our town, I hope the Caledonia Bridge, as it stands today, will be part of our future.
Written By: Ian Thompson
Used With Permission From The Grand River Sachem
