Chapter 13: civil History.
It has already been stated in chapter v., that a ferry was established in 1635 across Charles River (at the foot of Dunster Street), from which there was a road through Brookline and Roxbury to Boston. The only other feasible route to Boston was through Charlestown, and across a ferry near Copp's Hill. Desiring to avoid the inconvenience and peril of a ferry, the inhabitants of Cambridge consented, Nov. 10, 1656, “to pay each one their proportion of a rate to the sum of 2001. towards the building a bridge over Charles River, upon condition the same may be effected without further charge to the town.” A place for the bridge was selected, at the foot of Brighton Street; but the work was too great to be accomplished at once. Three years afterwards, Feb. 4, 1659-60, “the former propositions and votes that had passed, for the building of a bridge over Charles River, were again considered and debated; and the question being propounded, whether the town did agree and consent that the said work should be yet further prosecuted, and that 2001. should be levied on the inhabitants of this town towards the effecting thereof, the vote passed on the affirmative.” The structure was probably completed before March 23, 1662-3, when it was ordered, “that the bridge be laid in oil and lead, provided that it exceed not 40l. charge to the town.” This bridge was much larger than any which had previously been erected in the colony. From the first it was called the “Great Bridge;” and such is still its legal designation. The cost of maintaining such a bridge, together with a long causeway, was very great, compared with the means of defraying it, and many methods were devised to relieve the town of some portion of the burden. Under date of Oct. 12, 1670, the action of the General Court is recorded: “Whereas, the Bridge over Charles River, which was first erected at the cost of that town, together with the free contribution of several public spirited persons in some neighbor towns, ”
