New Collection Items
The Hart Cluett Museum recently acquired a wonderfully dynamic photographic collection, documenting the construction of the Menands Bridge.
As automobile traffic began to grow again after the Great Depression, projects like the Menands Bridge, that connects South Troy with Menands and later I-787, made a big difference in how people and products got in and out the city. Longtime Troy mayor Cornelius Burns had been in favor of the new bridge for a number of years as a way to open up commerce in the south end of the city and solve increasing traffic congestion on the Congress Street Bridge. The estimated $2.9 million cost of the bridge was shared between New York State and Albany and Rensselaer Counties. Initially, Albany County objected to paying more for the bridge than Rensselaer County until Governor Franklin D. Roosevelt stepped in – this was one of the many public works projects he supported during the Depression. Construction began in 1928 and the dedication of the bridge took place with Governor Herbert Lehman, Roosevelt’s successor, and Roosevelt in attendance on July 17, 1933. It opened to traffic the following year and quickly had a positive impact on both traffic flow and business development.
The bridge is a polygonal Warren through truss design with a lift span. It became one of New York State’s largest drawbridges when it was built. At 135 feet high the bridge quickly became a landmark. The lift was removed in 1966 and the towers were removed in 2000. Today it carries over 35,000 vehicles a day, partly due to use by Hudson Valley Community students who commute to school.
The photo to the left depicts the view looking east from the lift tower of the Menands Bridge showing the new access road to the bridge as well as the Hudson Valley Fuel Corp., the Coke Plant, and the spire of St. Michael’s Roman Catholic church (destroyed by fire in 1978) on Stowe Avenue. Looking to the north you can see St. Joseph’s Orphanage on the hill. Also visible in the foreground are the railroad tracks that are still used today for freight.
The photo to the right depicts the view south from the intersection of Burden Avenue and Mill Street. The photographer’s perspective is looking southwest from the extant retaining wall that is on the northeast corner of Burden Avenue and Mill Street. The wall today has the Burden Water Wheel painted on it. The buildings were later demolished to make way for the new bridge that crossed the Wynantskill and for the access road to the Menands Bridge.
Quick facts about the Menands Bridge:
Connects Troy and Menands
Built in 1933 at a cost of $2.9 million
Dedicated on July 17, 1933 with Gov. Lehman and President Franklin D. Roosevelt in attendance
The draw towers were removed in the mid-1990s