Calvin Coolidge Bridge - Northampton/Hadley MA - People-Named Places on Waymarking.com

The Place:

The Calvin Coolidge Bridge was built between 1937 - 1939 under the Hayden Cartwright Act which was a Depression Era program to create jobs. It replaced an existing bridge that was destroyed in the flood of 1936. The bridge was designed by W. & L. Engineering Co. with consultant Maurice A. Reidy, and the architectural firm of Desmond and Lord. Construction was carried out by T. Stuart & Sons.

This 1,441' long, five span Warren deck truss bridge connects the city of Northampton on the west bank of the Connecticut River to Town of Hadley and the City of Amherst, Massachusetts on the east side of the river. It's most notable feature are four 15' by 27' tapered ornamental granite pylons with Art Deco ornamentation. Each top corner contains symmetrical carved American eagles and the incised Art Deco lettering with the words CALVIN COOLIDGE MEMORIAL BRIDGE

The Person:

Calvin Coolidge, was born in Plymouth, VT. He attended Black River Academy in Ludlow, Vermont and Amherst College in Amherst Massachusetts. After graduation, he moved to Northampton and started a law practice. His professional political life began when he was elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives from Northampton, MA in 1907. From 1907 until 1929 is held several political offices. He became the 30th President of the United States upon the death of Warren G. Harding in 1921. He was elected in his own right in 1924 for a four year term as President. He declined to run for the office four years later.

Know as "Silent Cal", he was a taciturn man who had a reputation as an introverted, conservative Republican. His political philosophy is summed up in his most famous quote “the chief business of the American people is business.”

Calvin Coolidge died on January 5, 1933 in Northampton, MA. He is buried near the family farm in Notch Cemetery in Plymouth Notch, VT

Two identical massive plaques in honor of Calvin Coolidge are mounted on the northeast and southwest pylons. Each plaque is inscribed.

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