French King Bridge

On Route 2.

I am not sure where this bridge and falls actually are. I know they are between Shelburne Falls and French King bridge, but I thought it was pretty.

The Governor's name is scratched out, but with some research I think the governor was Joseph B. Ely. He became governor in 1930. He started a series of public works projects and highway construction was accelerated , supported by a gasoline tax. He was governor until 1936.

The French King Bridge was constructed to relocate a hazardous 7 mile stretch of Route 2, The Mohawk Trail. Construction was started in September, 1931 and was opened on September 10, 1932.

It was named French King Bridge was named for French King Rock. The rock was named by a French officer of an Indian scouting party during the French and Indian War. I found more information about the bridge structure itself than the man who named the rock, and thus the bridge.

You can not see the rock from this angle, but it is there.

See that dot in the middle of the Connecticut River, that is French King Rock.

Lon had to be carried out to look, traffic and a very high bridge....

Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts

Shelburne Falls is famous to it's Bridge of Flowers. The Bridge started out in 1908 as a trolley bridge. The Falls & Colrain Street Railway moved freight between the rail yard and several textile mills. The trolley even took children to the movie theater in Shelburne Falls. The trolley went out of business in 1928, when trucks took on more freight. They did find an old trolley out in a field, had it restored and it now can be found in the Trolley Museum. (which we did not visit, maybe next trip) In 1929 the funds were raised to transform the now unused trolley bridge into a bridge of flowers. Most of the funding comes from public donation.

The view from the bridge of flowers.

My boys

Across the falls.

When Mark and I first visited Shelburne Falls -they allowed people down onto the Glacier Pot Holes. They now have a locked fence, with posted no trespassing signs. I am glad we got to go down there before. Not that I would have gone down there with Lon. Fast moving water and rocks, that sounds like a winning combo when you add a 3-year old!

The falls. Three gates were open.

They started closing the gates. Super heavy duty hydraulics!

Handmade candles. I loved all the colors.

Shelburne Falls is an arts community.

Watching a team blow glass.

Looking at the bridge of flowers from the car/foot bridge.

Next: Moving down the Mohawk Trail.

Driving to Shelburne Falls

We left Vermont, on our way south.

I liked this pumpkin patch. Vermont spelled out in pumpkins.

We stopped at the bronze elk to stretch our legs. The Elk was made as a memorial to the fallen Elk Club members of World War 1. It was dedicated on June 17, 1923. The money was raised by Elks all over New England. The Monument is in Florida Mass. (one of the town signs has a snow man and a palm tree. Super cute!) It is a Whitcomb Summit, an elevation of 2,800feet.


They have a time capsule buried there. Opening in just a few more years.

Are you watching me? I am going to run.

Coming back at you!

Color

I did not see the bear crossing sign when I snapped this. I thought the color was good. The bear sign was a bonus.

I love these little motel cottages. Someday I think we should actually stay in one. Although I think that it will not measure up to what I think it will be.

A roadside stand on the Mohawk trail.

Bennington Monument

The Bennington Monument commemorates the August 16, 1777 Battle of Bennington. The Green Mountain Boys defeated a superior British force. The battle monument rises over 300 feet. The elevator "only" goes up 200 feet. There are stairs, but they were closed to the public in 1960.

Can it really be a moose?

Yep, it is a painted moose. (yes, the weather did clear up)

Waiting in the line to go up into the monument. The outside of the monument was covered in ladybugs. Lon thought it was very cool. He kept trying to touch them. They were landing on Daddy.

The view from the top. There are lots of slit windows to look out. There were also lots of people!

Daddy and Lon.

Inside our hotel room. Yes, Lon is playing with a new construction set in only his diaper. The room reminded me of grandma's spare room circa 1968.

The hotel and the Church.

We spent a wonderful evening in Bennington with some of Mark's college friends. They were very nice.