This is a picture of the Choate Bridge in Ipswich, MA where I live. This bridge was built in 1764, and is one of the oldest standing bridges in North America. It is also the oldest documented two-span masonry arch bridge in the United States. The bridge spans over the Ipswich River. Colonel John Choate supervised the construction of the bridge, which was named after him, and he was said to be the first person to ride his horse over the bridge. It used to be a single lane bridge, but in 1838, the bridge was widened to two lanes, and in 1989 it was renovated. There has always been some type of bridge over this river in this same spot, since 1641, but the earlier bridges were built using wood. To read more, you can go to
THIS website.
The Choate Bridge Pub is very close to there and when I worked construction, my boss was great friends with the owner. In my construction days, we worked on the Ipswich river close to that picture only upstream a little and built a retaining wall to hold up a building. The work was hard because we would have to work with the tides. I have also worked at the Choate Bridge Pub doing some sewer work. The Pub is has great food and I highly recommend going there on Fridays for prime rib; the prime rib is huge and delicious!
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