100 



The day of inauguration may be considered one of the 

 important events in the town's life ; a good proportion of 

 the people were out, a collation was provided, and speeches 

 ranging from grave to gay were warm in the approval 

 of this object which has been a cherished one for many 

 years to obtain. 



In 1834, 1835 and 1836 petitions were forwarded to 

 the Legislature for a charter to build a bridge at this 

 locality, but the opposition of Haverhill, and more actively 

 that of the Proprietors of Haverhill Bridge, prevented a 

 favorable consideration. This source of objection is now 

 removed, the several bridges over the Merrimac, hitherto 

 controlled by private interests, have been laid out as high- 

 ways by legislative action (see Acts 1867, chap. 296, and 

 1868, chap. 309), and the expenses incident thereto and of 

 maintaining the same have been assessed by the county 

 commissioners on the county and towns or cities most 

 benefited. 



HISTORICAL NOTICES. 



The first bridge over the Merrimac at Haverhill was 

 completed in the autumn of 1794 ; its erection was consid- 

 ered a marvel of mechanical skill and ingenuity. In 

 1795 the Merrimac Bridge at the Rocks connecting Haver- 

 hill with West Nevvbury was built, and was the longest 

 over this river; there being but little travel, the propri- 

 etors suffered it to fall to decay and in 1818 it was swept 

 away by the ice. It was rebuilt in 1828. 



These bridges have superseded the old ferries, the 

 primitive mode adopted by our ancestors to maintain 

 communication with those living on the opposite banks 

 of the large rivers and to facilitate general travel. 



An historical sketch of these old ferries with brief allu- 

 sions to the many incidents connected therewith would 

 embody many valuable facts and be a great contribution to 



