A Visit To The Wire Bridge in New Portland, Maine
Every few years we make the trip to New Portland to visit the Wire Bridge that crosses the Carrabassett River just a bit north of the town. It is a beautiful place, especially in the Fall. After crossing the bridge you will find parking and a pleasant area to walk along the rocky river, shaded by oak trees. Here is a short video of our visit. In the video you will see the way the bridge moves as a car crosses over.
Some say the wire suspension bridge was built around 1840 by Colonel F. B. Morse. He had been an engineer in the army and lived nearby. Others say it was built around 1864 by David Eider and Captain Charles Clark. While other bridges of this kind were built in the 1800’s, this may be the only one still standing in the U. S. The bridge has a weight limit of 3 tons.
Two main steel cables, about 4 inches in diameter are attached to granite anchors at each end. The cables run up over the 25 foot towers and across the river. The span is about 190 feet. The cables are original, as are the 12 inch tower framing timbers. The wooden plank deck hangs from about 200 steel cables. Originally steel rods were used but they were replaced in 1961 when the bridge was renovated. The bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1970.