Pelham's Historic East Third Street Bridge Over the Hutchinson River Parkway

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The East Third Street Bridge that arches over the Hutchinson River Parkway connecting Pelham with Mount Vernon is a remarkable and special structure.  It has aesthetic, rough-cut stone facing on a two-span bridge:  the main arched span arches above the Hutchinson River Parkway.  The smaller arched span arches above the Hutchinson River adjacent to the Parkway.  There is a large stone-faced tower on the off-centered pier between the two spans.  In 2014 the bridge was deemed eligible for a nomination to the National Register of Historic Places.  The bridge now has been deemed "functionally obsolete" with plans to remove and replace it.  As a recently-released report concerning the bridge stated: 

"The East Third Street Bridge was determined Eligible for the National Register of Historic Places in 2014.  The bridge is Eligible under Criterion C-5, as a post-standardization (post-1910) concrete T-beam bridge with high artistic value.  The bridge stands out as an uncommon two-span continuous T-beam highway bridge that used arched beams to fit the aesthetic of the Hutchinson River Parkway.  It is one of two T-beam grade separation bridges built on the original parkway.  All of the bridges on the original Hutchinson River Parkway were distinguished by their arched rustic stone designs, with no two bridges being alike.  The East Third Street Bridge demonstrates perhaps the strongest asymmetry of any of the bridges, with a tower on an off-center pier and no balancing features on the abutments.  The bridge reflects a collaborative effort between Arthur G. Hayden, Engineer, and Gilmore D. Clarke, Landscape Architect, of the Westchester County Park Commission, leaders in the field of parkway design. . . .

The New York State Department of Transportation has classified the East Third Street Bridge as functionally obsolete.  Analysis by the NYSDOT Region determined there is no prudent and feasible alternative that would meet the project objectives and retain the National Register Eligible bridge. . . ."

Source:  LoRusso, Mark S., An Historic American Engineering Record Level II Documentation of the East Third Street Bridge Spanning Hutchinson River Parkway and Hutchinson River NYSDOT PIN 8BOW.01.101 City of Mount Vernon and Village of Pelham Westchester County New York, p. 1 (2017: Sponsored by The Federal Highway Administration and the New York State Department of Transportation, Part of the New York State Museum Cultural Resource Survey Program).

Recent View, Looking from North to South, of the East

Street Bridge on the Hutchinson River Parkway.  Source:

LoRusso, Mark S., An Historic American Engineering 
Record Level II Documentation of the East Third Street Bridge

Spanning Hutchinson River Parkway and Hutchinson River NYSDOT

PIN 8BOW.01.101 City of Mount Vernon and Village of Pelham Westchester

County New York, p. 70  (2017:  Sponsored by The Federal Highway

Administration and the New York State Department of Transportation, Part

of the New York State Museum Cultural Resource Survey Program). 
NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

Today's posting to the Historic Pelham Blog provides a little background and history of the construction of the Hutchinson River Parkway and, more particularly, the East Third Street Bridge.  Much of today's posting is beholden to the extensive work of Mark S. LoRusso cited immediately above (hereinafter, "LoRusso").

The Hutchinson River Parkway as we know it today was built in "four stages" between 1924 and 1941.  "The original parkway, extending 11 miles from Boston Post Road (US 1) in the Town of Pelham, to Westchester Avenue in the Town of White Plains, was completed in 1928.  A norther extension from Boston Post to the Whitestone Bridge was completed in two stages in 1937 and 1941."  LoRusso, p 6.  

Planning to construct the Hutchinson River Parkway and its necessary bridges began early in the Roaring Twenties.  The first set of construction contracts to build the parkway were awarded in the fall of 1925:  (1) to authorize grading the roadway from Boston Post Road in Pelham to New Rochelle Road; (2) to authorize construction of so-called "grade separation" bridges at Secor Lane, East Third Street, East Lincoln Avenue (then known as "Fourth Street"), and Colonial Avenue.  

According to LoRusso:

"Construction of the Hutchinson River Parkway began in spring 1926.  By summer, most of the grading between the Boston Post Road and New Rochelle Road was completed and the four bridges at Secor Lane, Colonial Avenue / Sixth Street, East Third Street and East Lincoln Avenue were underway.  A street level crossing had been planned at the intersection of Sparks Avenue, a busy street north of East Third Street, due to the inability to engineer a grade separation so close to the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad underpass.  After much debate between the Park Commission, the City of Mount Vernon and the Village of Pelham, Sparks Avenue was closed at the parkway due to safety concerns, and a pedestrian bridge was built.  The construction of the railroad underpass, known as the Pelham arch, did not begin until spring 1927, due to negotiations with the railroad over the construction of an aesthetic rather than a purely utilitarian structure."  LoRusso, p. 8 (footnote omitted).

 The first eleven-mile stretch of the Hutchinson River Parkway, including the bridges authorized in the first set of construction contracts, opened on October 27, 1928 amidst great fanfare.  "A dedication ceremony was held in Saxon Woods Park following an automobile parade from Pelham, with an estimated 2,000 people in attendance.  The parkway was presented by V. Everit Macy, Chairman of the Westchester County Park Commission.  An acceptance speech was delivered by Charles D. Millard, Chairman of the Westchester County Board of Supervisors.  The final cost was $10,062,000."  Id. (footnote omitted).  

Architectural drawings and renderings for the design of the East Third Street Bridge seem to have been completed by about October 6, 1925.  As the photographs included below demonstrate, concrete forms were in place and foundation and pier concrete was being poured and stone facing was being placed by June, 1926.  For at least a portion of the time during which the bridge was being constructed, the old East Third Street bridge built in 1901 and the trolley tracks for the line that ran across it at the time were kept in place.    

By October 8, 1926, work had progressed so that forms were in place to construct both the main parkway span of the bridge and the secondary river span.  Additionally, work was underway to construct the balustrades of the bridge.  By this date, it appears that the old Third Street Bridge built in 1901, including the trolley tracks laid along that bridge, had been removed.  

October 8, 1926. This view, looking north, shows the forms in place for the parkway span and river span (far left) and workmen building the balustrades on scaffolds. The stone facing was completed before the structural concrete was poured. Apparently, the old bridge including the trolley line was removed by this time.

By December 12, 1926, steel reinforcement was in place and timber forms were set for pouring the bridge floor, T-beams, and abutments of the bridge.  Construction of the East Third Street Bridge was completed before the parkway was paved.  Preparation for paving the parkway including, of course, beneath the main parkway arch of the bridge, was underway by August 31, 1927.  

Work to complete the remainder of the eleven-mile first stage stretch of the Hutchinson River Parkway took nearly another year, with the opening of the parkway, as noted above, on October 27, 1928.  Now, nearly ninety years later, the historic East Third Street Bridge that connects Pelham with Mount Vernon will give way to a modernized version.

"Photo 48.  Architectural Elevation & Plan, East Third Street, Mt. Vernon and
Pelham, N. Y., Westchester County Park Commission,  October 1925, Contract
68, Sheet 2 of 8.  Note Hutchinson River path under west span (Span 2). 
(Westchester County Archives, Park Commission Photograph Collection,
NPC1833A)"  Source:  LoRusso, Mark S., An Historic American Engineering 
Record Level II Documentation of the East Third Street Bridge

Spanning Hutchinson River Parkway and Hutchinson River NYSDOT

PIN 8BOW.01.101 City of Mount Vernon and Village of Pelham Westchester

County New York, p. 99  (2017:  Sponsored by The Federal Highway

Administration and the New York State Department of Transportation, Part

of the New York State Museum Cultural Resource Survey Program). 
NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

"Photo 32.  Drawing of the East Third Street Bridge, October 6, 1925.

This drawing shows that a rigid frame bridge was originally planned

for the East Third Street crossing.  (Westchester County Park Commission,

Report, April 30, 1925)"  Source:  LoRusso, Mark S., An Historic American

Engineering Record Level II Documentation of the East Third Street

Bridge Spanning Hutchinson River Parkway and Hutchinson River NYSDOT

PIN 8BOW.01.101 City of Mount Vernon and Village of Pelham Westchester

County New York, p. 85 (2017:  Sponsored by The Federal Highway

Administration and the New York State Department of Transportation, Part

of the New York State Museum Cultural Resource Survey Program). 
NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

"Photo 33.  Drawing of the East Third Street Bridge, October 6, 1925.

This revision of the above  drawing shows T-Beams added to the underside

of the bridge.  (Westchester County Archives Park Commission Photograph

Collection, NPC1263A)"    Source:  LoRusso, Mark S., An Historic American

Engineering Record Level II Documentation of the East Third Street

Bridge Spanning Hutchinson River Parkway and Hutchinson River NYSDOT

PIN 8BOW.01.101 City of Mount Vernon and Village of Pelham Westchester

County New York, p. 85 (2017:  Sponsored by The Federal Highway

Administration and the New York State Department of Transportation, Part

of the New York State Museum Cultural Resource Survey Program).
NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

"Photo 34.  Construction of the East Third Street Bridge, mid-June 1926.  This

view, looking southeast, shows the forms for the pier (foreground), and the 

abutment (in distance) of the parkway span.  The stepped concrete wing wall

behind the abutment is visible at upper left.  (Westchester County Archives, Park

Commission Photograph Collection, PPC 1537)"  Source:  LoRusso, Mark S., An Historic

American Engineering Record Level II Documentation of the East Third Street

Bridge Spanning Hutchinson River Parkway and Hutchinson River NYSDOT

PIN 8BOW.01.101 City of Mount Vernon and Village of Pelham Westchester

County New York, p. 86 (2017:  Sponsored by The Federal Highway

Administration and the New York State Department of Transportation, Part

of the New York State Museum Cultural Resource Survey Program).
NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

"Photo  35.  Construction of the East Third Street Bridge, mid-June 1926.  This
view, looking south, shows workmen building forms for the abutment of the
river span.  The Pelham water plant is visible in the distance on the east side of
the parkway route.  (Westchester County Archives, Park Commission Photograph
Collection, PPC1536)"  Source:  LoRusso, Mark S., An Historic American

Engineering Record Level II Documentation of the East Third Street

Bridge Spanning Hutchinson River Parkway and Hutchinson River NYSDOT

PIN 8BOW.01.101 City of Mount Vernon and Village of Pelham Westchester

County New York, p. 87 (2017:  Sponsored by The Federal Highway

Administration and the New York State Department of Transportation, Part

of the New York State Museum Cultural Resource Survey Program).
NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

"Photo 36.  Construction of the East Third Street Bridge, mid-June 1926.
This view shows forms for the pier at the Hutchinson River span, looking
southeast, with the Pelham water plant in the distance.  (Westchester County
Archives, Park Commission Photograph Collection, PPC1557)"  Source:
LoRusso, Mark S., An Historic American Engineering Record Level II

Documentation of the East Third Street Bridge Spanning 

Hutchinson River Parkway and Hutchinson River NYSDOT

PIN 8BOW.01.101 City of Mount Vernon and Village of Pelham Westchester

County New York, p. 88 (2017:  Sponsored by The Federal Highway

Administration and the New York State Department of Transportation, Part

of the New York State Museum Cultural Resource Survey Program).
NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

"Photo 37. Construction of the East Third Street Bridge, mid-June 1926.
This view, looking south, shows workmen laying stone for the facing of
the pier. Note forms for concrete panels on the river side of the pier (Westchester
County Archives, Park Commission Photograph Collection, PPC1551)"  Source:
LoRusso, Mark S., An Historic American Engineering Record Level II

Documentation of the East Third Street Bridge Spanning 

Hutchinson River Parkway and Hutchinson River NYSDOT

PIN 8BOW.01.101 City of Mount Vernon and Village of Pelham Westchester

County New York, p. 89 (2017:  Sponsored by The Federal Highway

Administration and the New York State Department of Transportation, Part

of the New York State Museum Cultural Resource Survey Program).
NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

This fascinating photo includes what may be one of the only known image of the 
original East Third Street Bridge (in background on left) built in 1901.
"Photo 38. Construction of the East Third Street Bridge, mid-June 1926.
This view shows the completed stonework on the pier (right) and the abutment of
the parkway span (left), looking south toward the old Third Street bridge. (Westchester
County Archives, Park Commission Photograph Collection, PPC1549)"  Source:
LoRusso, Mark S., An Historic American Engineering Record Level II

Documentation of the East Third Street Bridge Spanning 

Hutchinson River Parkway and Hutchinson River NYSDOT

PIN 8BOW.01.101 City of Mount Vernon and Village of Pelham Westchester

County New York, p. 90 (2017:  Sponsored by The Federal Highway

Administration and the New York State Department of Transportation, Part

of the New York State Museum Cultural Resource Survey Program).
NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

"Photo 39. Construction of the East Third Street Bridge, August 28, 1926.
This view, looking north, shows the forms In place for the parkway span, with
the old bridge and trolley tracks in the foreground. (Westchester
County Archives, Park Commission Photograph Collection, PPC1633)"  Source:
LoRusso, Mark S., An Historic American Engineering Record Level II

Documentation of the East Third Street Bridge Spanning 

Hutchinson River Parkway and Hutchinson River NYSDOT

PIN 8BOW.01.101 City of Mount Vernon and Village of Pelham Westchester

County New York, p. 91 (2017:  Sponsored by The Federal Highway

Administration and the New York State Department of Transportation, Part

of the New York State Museum Cultural Resource Survey Program).
NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

"Photo 40.  Construction of the East Third Street Bridge, October 8, 1926.
This view, looking north, shows the forms in place for the parkway span
and river span (far left) and workmen building the balustrades on scaffolds.
The stone facing was completed before the structural concrete was poured.
Apparently, the old bridge was removed by this time.  (Westchester County
Archives, Park Commission Photograph Collection, PPC1688)"  Source:
LoRusso, Mark S., An Historic American Engineering Record Level II

Documentation of the East Third Street Bridge Spanning 

Hutchinson River Parkway and Hutchinson River NYSDOT

PIN 8BOW.01.101 City of Mount Vernon and Village of Pelham Westchester

County New York, p. 92 (2017:  Sponsored by The Federal Highway

Administration and the New York State Department of Transportation, Part

of the New York State Museum Cultural Resource Survey Program).
NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

"Photo 41.  Construction of the East Third Street Bridge, December 12, 1926.
This view, looking west, shows the steel reinforcement and timber forms set
for pouring the bridge floor. T-beams, and abutments.  (Westchester County
Archives, Park Commission Photograph Collection, PPC1744)"  Source:
LoRusso, Mark S., An Historic American Engineering Record Level II

Documentation of the East Third Street Bridge Spanning 

Hutchinson River Parkway and Hutchinson River NYSDOT

PIN 8BOW.01.101 City of Mount Vernon and Village of Pelham Westchester

County New York, p. 93 (2017:  Sponsored by The Federal Highway

Administration and the New York State Department of Transportation, Part

of the New York State Museum Cultural Resource Survey Program).
NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

"Photo 42.  View of the parkway looking south from the East Third Street Bridge,
August 31, 1927.  This view shows workmen preparing the roadways for paving.
(Westchester County Archives, Park Commission Photograph Collection, PPC5389)"
Source:  LoRusso, Mark S., An Historic American Engineering Record Level II

Documentation of the East Third Street Bridge Spanning 

Hutchinson River Parkway and Hutchinson River NYSDOT

PIN 8BOW.01.101 City of Mount Vernon and Village of Pelham Westchester

County New York, p. 94 (2017:  Sponsored by The Federal Highway

Administration and the New York State Department of Transportation, Part

of the New York State Museum Cultural Resource Survey Program).
NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

"Photo 43.  View of the just completed East Third Street Bridge, north elevation, looking
southwest, showing the white stucco panels beneath the bridge.  The parkway has not
yet been paved.  (Westchester County Park Commission, Report, April 30, 1927:  63)"
Source:  LoRusso, Mark S., An Historic American Engineering Record Level II

Documentation of the East Third Street Bridge Spanning 

Hutchinson River Parkway and Hutchinson River NYSDOT

PIN 8BOW.01.101 City of Mount Vernon and Village of Pelham Westchester

County New York, p. 95 (2017:  Sponsored by The Federal Highway

Administration and the New York State Department of Transportation, Part

of the New York State Museum Cultural Resource Survey Program).
NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

View of the Asymmetrical Two-Arched East Third Street Bridge in 1928

Showing the Tower on an Off-Center Pier with No Balancing Features

on the Abutments.  Source:  LoRusso, Mark S., An Historic American

Engineering Record Level II Documentation of the East Third Street

Bridge Spanning Hutchinson River Parkway and Hutchinson River NYSDOT

PIN 8BOW.01.101 City of Mount Vernon and Village of Pelham Westchester

County New York, p. 36 (2017:  Sponsored by The Federal Highway

Administration and the New York State Department of Transportation, Part

of the New York State Museum Cultural Resource Survey Program)

(citing "Westchester County Park Commission, Report, April 30, 1928:  58).

NOTE:  Click on Images to Enlarge.

"Photo 45.  View of the completed East Third Street Bridge, south elevation,
looking north, June 4, 1929 (Westchester County Archives, Park Commission
Photograph Collection, PPC5895_1)"  Source:
LoRusso, Mark S., An Historic American Engineering Record Level II

Documentation of the East Third Street Bridge Spanning 

Hutchinson River Parkway and Hutchinson River NYSDOT

PIN 8BOW.01.101 City of Mount Vernon and Village of Pelham Westchester

County New York, p. 96 (2017:  Sponsored by The Federal Highway

Administration and the New York State Department of Transportation, Part

of the New York State Museum Cultural Resource Survey Program).
NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

"Photo 46.  View of the East Third Street Bridge, north elevation, looking southeast,
early 1930's (Westchester County Archives, John Gass Photograph
Collection, NJG41A)"  Source:
LoRusso, Mark S., An Historic American Engineering Record Level II

Documentation of the East Third Street Bridge Spanning 

Hutchinson River Parkway and Hutchinson River NYSDOT

PIN 8BOW.01.101 City of Mount Vernon and Village of Pelham Westchester

County New York, p. 97 (2017:  Sponsored by The Federal Highway

Administration and the New York State Department of Transportation, Part

of the New York State Museum Cultural Resource Survey Program).
NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

Archive of the Historic Pelham Web Site.
Home Page of the Historic Pelham Blog.

Order a Copy of "Thomas Pell and the Legend of the Pell Treaty Oak."