1872-1977 Lost/Red Bridge (Manual Swing Bridge) over Seekonk River at Providence, RI

(Archived Bridge Hunter; Bridge Hunter; Satellite)

First of 14, ArtInRuins
1872-1977
"There are few perfect examples of the way New Englanders call things by what they used to be, and this is one of them. Named simply after the color it was painted, the original “Red Bridge” was a wooden drawbridge structure built in 1793."

Fifth of 14, ArtInRuins

1950 photo from Providence Journal files via BridgeHunter

That was a big bridge to move manually.

Bridges Now and Then posted
"Workers turn massive key on Red Bridge, 1959", Providence, Rhode Island. Manually opening the swing bridge took a lot of grunt. (The Providence Journal)

Tim Berry commented on the above post
Not that long ago between Haverhill and West Newbury, Ma. The Rocks Village Bridge over the Merrimack River. Six spans including the manual swing. The oldest span dates to 1883. My photo.

The girders of the replacement bridge were painted red to keep the "Red Bridge" tradition alive.

Street View, Jun 2021

Bridges Now and Then posted
"PROVIDENCE, RI -- 5/29/1959 That cagey old Red Bridge knows how to get a cool shower on a hot day. She just refuses to close." (Providence Journal Photo Archives)
Dave Frieder: The same situation has happened with the NYC Harlem River bridges!
Also in ProvidenceJournal [This web page has several more photos of bridges on the this river.]