Aquedoctan Stone Bridge
The Aquedoctan Stone Bridge was built in 1932. The bridge is actually a “concrete closed-spandrel deck arch bridge”. It is not made entirely of stone, but is a concrete bridge with stone facing. The spandrel sides of the semi-elliptical arch are solid concrete, thus the spandrels (the nearly triangular spaces aside the outer curves of the arch) are closed in.
The granite facing was obtained from the John Swenson Granite quarry in Concord. It was “Ashlar Cut”, which means that the stone was cut to have a smooth, even facing with square sides. The granite facing was installed by Joseph Comolli, a Concord granite contractor. The John Swenson Granite Company, founded in 1883, still exists today, and is now known as Swenson Stone Works.
Views looking North towards Weirs Bay
The Aquedoctan Stone Bridge in the mid 1930’s. Note the Victorian street lighting. The steel bridge to the Endicott Rock monument seen here was gone by 1938.
Another 1930’s view of the bridge.
The Aquedoctan Stone Bridge in the mid-1930’s. In this white border postcard, the steel bridge to the Endicott Rock Monument is visible, thereby dating the postcard to 1937 or earlier.
The Aquedoctan Stone Bridge in the 1940’s. In this old linen postcard, the Uncle Sam mailboat is passing underneath the bridge.
The Aquedoctan Stone Bridge in the 1950’s. Modern street lighting has replaced the Victorian lights.
Views looking South towards Paugus Bay
An identical postcard to the previous, with different caption and in black and white.
Below, a July 19, 1937 photo of the Endicott Rock Monument, Weirs Channel and Aquedoctan Stone Bridge. Taken from the Uncle Sam.
The bridge was main subject on the cover of the 1946 Laconia Chamber of Commerce brochure
