Almost exactly 9 years ago — on December 14, 2016 — “06880” published a story by “historic-minded” Wendy Crowther. The subject was the William F. Cribari Bridge.
I called it a “perfect holiday/Westport piece.” It still is.
And — with a Connecticut Department of Transportation “consulting meeting” set for this Thursday (December 18, 6 p.m., Town Hall) — this is a perfect time to re-post her thoughts.
The span over the Saugatuck River is now 141 years old. But little has changed in the near-decade since Wendy first wrote:
A few days ago, my TV remote dropped me into the last half of the 1946 holiday classic, “It’s a Wonderful Life.” I entered the story just as George Bailey ran onto the Bedford Falls Bridge and contemplated suicide. Luckily George’s guardian angel, Clarence, showed up just in time to help George see the value of his life, and its impact on his town and loved ones.
Though I’ve seen the movie a bazillion times, this time I noticed something I hadn’t seen before. George Bailey’s bridge was very similar to our own Saugatuck swing bridge (the William F. Cribari Bridge).
George Bailey on the Bedford Falls bridge (1946).
Due to my involvement over the last year and a half in efforts to not only document the history of our 132-year old span, but also save it from the impending doom of the state Department of Transportation’s scrap heap, I’ve become sensitized to old bridges in general — particularly truss bridges like ours (and George’s).
Seeing the movie from this new perspective, I became intrigued by the film’s use of the bridge as a symbol. Sixty years ago, when “It’s a Wonderful Life” was first released, plenty of small truss bridges still existed. Clearly, it was one of many elements used by the filmmakers to convey the quaint, homey feel of a small, American town — towns like Westport, and thousands of others across the country.
George Bailey’s bridge, set in fictional Bedford Falls, plays a pivotal role in the story. The 2 most transformative moments occur as George stands upon it: the first as he prepares to jump from it, the second when he returns to the bridge and desperately pleads, “I want to live.”
It’s believed that the town of Seneca Falls, New York was director Frank Capra’s inspiration for “It’s a Wonderful Life.” He supposedly visited Seneca Falls during the time the screenplay was being developed. Seneca Falls has a real bridge that looks much like the one depicted in the movie.
It also looks a lot like our Saugatuck swing bridge.
George Bailey on the Bedford Falls bridge (left); the actual Seneca Falls bridge (right). (Photos/Ottawarewind.com)
Though the Seneca Falls bridge and Westport’s are similar in many ways, Seneca’s can’t hold a candle to our own.
Our bridge, built in 1884, is 132 years old — the oldest active bridge of its type in the nation. Seneca’s, built in 1915, is a mere 101. Both are truss bridges, though ours is longer and made of iron; theirs is made of steel. Our bridge swings open for boat traffic; theirs doesn’t. The roads over both bridges are known as Bridge Street — but ours has the additional honor of being designated a State Scenic Road.
Our bridge crosses the Saugatuck River; theirs crosses the Seneca. Both bridges are still in use and open to traffic. Neither is tall enough to allow semi-tractor trailers to cross.
But here’s where Seneca’s bridge has it over ours. It was rehabilitated in 1997. Ours may meet the wrecking ball within the next few years — if the state has its druthers. DOT wants to make room for big rigs.
Original plans for the 1884 Saugatuck River bridge. (Image courtesy of Westport Historical Society)
In the fictional town of Bedford Falls, and in the real-life towns of Seneca Falls and Westport, bridges are iconic symbols that tell a story, provide a sense of place, and teach us about our history. They span rivers and time. They connect what separates us, and they can deter what we prefer to fend off.
In “It’s a Wonderful Life,” the critical moment occurs as George stands for the 2nd time on the Bedford Falls Bridge and begs to have his old life back again. Suddenly, snow begins to fall. He is transported from his alternate reality and returned to the present. His gratitude sends him jubilantly running through the streets of Bedford Falls, shouting greetings to all the buildings and friends he cherishes.
As the film ends, all is well in Bedford Falls. Goodness triumphs over selfishness and greed, bells ring and the angel Clarence gets his wings.
The William Cribari (Saugatuck River) Bridge, Christmas Eve 2015. (Photo/Wendy Crowther)
Having newly seen “It’s a Wonderful Life” from the bridge’s perspective, I realize that it offers Westporters valuable insights and inspiration.
Will we fight hard to keep what many of us cherish — our Saugatuck swing bridge? What powerful forces will try to overcome valiant efforts to keep it just the way it is? What changes to the bridge could transform (or devastate) portions of our community forever? If we lose it, will we wish we had better understood the wisdom of its ways?
The film ends with 4 important words. The entire cast sings “Auld Lang Syne.” Loosely translated from Scottish, the phrase means “for the sake of old times.” Let’s remember those words.
(Wendy is a founding member of the Westport Preservation Alliance. For more information about the history of the Saugatuck Swing Bridge and the efforts to save it, click here.)
(“06880” was founded in 2009. We’re not as old as the Cribari Bridge, but we humbly think we play a nice role in this town too. If you enjoy our work, please click here to help. Thank you!)
I may have missed it, but I have not seen in the DOT alternative future design options a clear and detailed explanation of why the Cribari bridge can not be indefinitely maintained in good working condition just as it is. There seems to be an assumption that “something must be done”. Please help me understand why. If anyone could point me to this info I would appreciate it.
Generally speaking, iron truss bridges with a rivet based design should be able to survive as long as they are well maintained: regular inspection, paint, repair any corroded component as soon as identified, inspect foundation piers for undermining, etc.
I would love to see the option of ‘maintain as is’ fully described and included in the list of options; and if it is not possible then to see the detailed evidence why not.
Beautiful! The movie was released in 1946 a year after Jimmy Stuart was mustered out of the Air Force after completing 30 mission over Germany as pilot of a bomber. I can’t imagine how thankful he must have been and I’m sure, after what he had experienced, his emotion were real. Thanks Dan and Merry Christmas to you and all of the 06880 readers
I’m all in favor of saving the bridge’s current structure, but Westport is, by anyone’s reckoning, no longer a quaint, small or particularly “American” town…830-g and those who exploit it have seen to its current and future exclusion from the ability to use any such adjectives in it’s description.
Thank you , Wendy. Only we can protect the bridge, which in turn has protected Saugutuck and Green Farms Road from a potential nightmare. I truly applaud all residents who take up strong activism roles to protect the character of our town ,or what is left of it.
It’s not Connecticut it’s the War Department. They want to be able to move large wide load trucks carrying tanks over the beautiful but weak bridge that has a blocking superstructure. It keeps showing up RED on their maps and lowers their score.
Boy, if ever there was a perspective that made me want to save Cribari Bridge, this article provided it! The oldest truss bridge in the nation? Wow! Worth saving. Preservation preserves character.
I truly appreciate all the wonderful stories and information. Very happy to contribute to your great work. Thank you and Happy Holidays.
Thank you (again) Wendy for this touching piece and for your much appreciated preservation work in Westport.
I am especially grateful because I have enjoyed living near the Bridge, crossed over it daily, been directed as to where and when to drive by THE William F. Cribari, boated through it , enjoyed the holiday lights, painted a few paintings of it.
My memories of the Bridge also include a number of hearings held by the Connecticut Department of Transportation as they have tried to replace it and one where they ended by restoring it.
The first plan (before my time!) CTDOT put forth was to replace it with a high rise bridge—as high as the I-95 bridge—which lifted from the front lawn of the then Saugatuck Elementary School and landed at the Treadwell/Riverside intersection.
At the large public hearing nine years ago, a CTDOT attorney explained how CTDOT uses eminent domain and right of way to widen narrow roads, straighten awkward turns, and stage projects… in a plan intended to resolve the east and west approaches to the replacement bridge CTDOT proposed at that time.
In the past the hearings have been large, well-attended, and offered all Westporters with all points of view the opportunity for engagement.
This time the former Selectwoman okayed $4,000,000 in CTDOT funds to start the process (and allow brownfields funding for The Hamlet) with no prior notice.
The May 15th meeting where CTDOT announced their plan to replace the Bridge was “invitational” requiring no public notice by the Westport Town Clerk.
I received notice of this coming Thursday’s meeting but have discovered some other “stakeholders” received no notice at all.
CTDOT has seemingly replaced hearings with meetings…
No point in a hearing if you don’t want to listen?
So CTDOT plans to replace the Bridge— increasing the 20 ton weigh limit and expanding its height and width—to allow passage for all vehicles that can use I-95. CTDOT says 18 wheeler traffic would be unlikely because of sharp curves and the geometry of the route which they “are evaluating.” It says the route is not “desirable” for truckers.
If you live near the Bridge, you know that about once a week, usually around 1am, you can hear the beep-beep-beep of a trucker who did in fact find the bridge route desirable then saw the 20 ton weigh limit sign and started backing up onto Imperial Ave.
While visions of sugar plums dance in many heads during this decorated season, It is hard not to imagine that “freight corridor… Greens Farms Road…I-95 access road…freight distribution center… Saugatuck” are the dreams dancing around CTDOT headquarters.
Wendy’s words were beautiful when written and remain beautiful today. Thank you Wendy and Dan. Let’s all do it, preserve this historic bridge.
Thank you for this article. I hope and pray that the William Cribari Bridge can be saved. Hopefully the fact that it is the oldest bridge of its type still in use in the USA will carry some importance. I am olde enough and was living in Westport when I95 went through Westport. I remember the heart ache and destruction that it caused. The Cribari bridge has been protecting Westport ever since. Replacing it will make major changes to the area, and they won’t be pretty. So many of us carry the Cribari Bridge in our hearts. Crossing the Bridge always meant I was home. Just a little more than 60 years ago my future husband was coming to meet my family. He got to the bridge and had to wait while it opened for a boat to pass. He was thrilled. I still claim that he proposed to me just so he could continue to visit my family and see the Bridge open. Several years ago, I visited Westport with our oldest son and his son. We parked and walked across the bridge. It is always a first stop in Westport to see the bridge. Please everyone, do what you can to save it in working order. You will be saving memories and the beauty of the area also.
I have plenty of sentimental reasons to love the Cribari Bridge. My dad owned Jerry’s Hardware in Bridge Square for 30+ years and I’ve made the commute from our Valley Road home across the bridge to the store and back. As a kid I fished off the bridge and rode my bike over it to go to Bedford Jr. High in it’s Riverside Ave location. I vividly remember Officer Cribari directing traffic at the light there and naming it after him was a fitting tribute.
I was back in Westport in October for my 50th Staples class reunion and it remains a treat to drive across the Cribari Bridge and the memories it brings. The arguments against removing it so eloquently expressed here and elsewhere by my former teacher Werner Liepolt and others are legitimate; we can only hope they are heeded. The idea of large volumes of tractor trailer traffic transiting through Saugatuck and Greens Farms Road are horrible to contemplate.
I love this Bridge so much that when it’s lit during the the holiday season, I will often drive back and forth over it 3 or 4 times in succession