The Ruth Steinkraus Cohen Bridge performs many functions today.
It’s a major Saugatuck River crossing.
For decades, Westporters have gathered there for political protests.
Every spring and summer, it’s festooned with American flags. Twice a year — on jUNe Day and UN Day — they’re replaced by those of nations around the world.
Back in the day, the bridge was simply utilitarian.
In 1915 — 110 years ago — it looked like this:
(Photo courtesy of Christopher Maroc)
Known then as the State Street Bridge, it carried the trolley — a vital form of transportation.
In the view above — looking east — on the left we see the backs of Main Street buildings. The Saugatuck River lapped up against them, before construction of Parker Harding Plaza in the 1950s.
On the right is the former “Hurlbutt block” (now anchored by South Moon Under). The river wall looks much as it does today.
In the center — beyond the bridge — is the outline of the Westport Hotel. It was torn down 8 years later. The YMCA (now Anthropologie) rose in its place.
What else do you see? Click “Comments” below.
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😍 Public Transportation 😍
My grandparents and my aunts and uncles used to take the trolley every Sunday to go to church. I remember seeing remnants of the trolley tracks in the early 1950s.
Remnants of the trolley tracks were there in the late ’50s. I have a VERY vague recollection of them as a very young kid.
I share Dan’s vague recollection of the trolley cars. I certainly remember the tracks.
Dan, I think the CR&L buses replaced the trolleys. When I was 10,in 1957, I used to take the CR&L bus to downtown Bridgeport, change buses downtown, and take the second bus to the Beardsley statue on Noble Avenue to visit my grandmother from my mother’s side of the family. I did this at age 10 and traveled there alone! Think about it!
Hello, Jack,
Yes, my experience, too. I was 10 and in 5th grade at Bedford Elementary School after we moved to Westport in February 1950, and I needed to finish up my third year at Miss Nettleton’s weekly elocution classes. So after school I would take the bus to downtown Bridgeport and after an hour or more take the bus back to Westport. My parents were New Yorkers and it was routine for my family. BTW elocution lessons prepared me to be the announcer for school plays from that time!
And, Sara, my much younger sister and I took the bus to the dentist in Norwalk and afterwards we bought candy at Fanny Farmer(?) next to the bus stop.
Buying candy after a trip to the dentist is the way everyone should roll.
We always took the bus to Bridgeport on our own to go shopping. And to Norwalk’s skating rink.
Are we sure this is the bridge on State Street? It does not seem long enough for that crossing. Also, the original bridge had a short lift section on the far east side for the old onion boat canal.
That’s what the front of the postcard (which I cropped) says.
Was the trolly free?
I think the trolley cost ten cents. I’m not 100% though.
Here’s a quick story. When I was in Havana, Cuba (legally) in 2002, I was at a bus stop with maybe 18 people. When the bus came I went to the front of the line and told the bus driver in Spanish Quiero pagar por todos. (I want to pay for everyone. After everyone borded, the bus driver said, That’ll be 3 cents. I gave him a dollar tip (propina.)