Conference Bridge Rebuilt in Maine

Way up North, in Maine, the MATC has a no bridge policy except for three spans in the Bigelow District.

One is a short 8' span high across old stone abutments along the Sandy River, west of Saddleback. Another is a 24' span over Bog Brook, that is known locally as the JT Horn bridge. The third and largest was known as the Conference Bridge, this structure partially collapsed during the winter of 2001 and was removed.

The original 35' Conference Bridge was erected during the summer of 1979 before the ATC biennial conference was held at Sugarloaf that year. The 1979 Conference Bridge was designed by Winn Robins, a retired engineer, and built by the late Dick Brown, Vern Heustis and other volunteers. It allowed conference attendees to cross Stratton Brook on the AT into the newly formed Bigelow Preserve. In March, 1986, a "100 year flood" dislodged a logging bridge upsteam of the Conference Bridge, striking it and pushing it downstream onto the North bank of the Brook. Dick Brown, Vern Heustis and Gene Fredrick salvaged the stringers and planking to built a temporary bridge before reconstruction began in 1987. The new bridge was an A Frame structure designed by Vern Heustis and constructed by Dick Brown, who was then in his 70's, along with Gene Fredrick and many other volunteers.

When the 1987 Conference Bridge was removed as unsafe in 2001, a temporary crossing of rocks from the old cribs was made in the brook. This was done, in one day, by 12 volunteers from Camp Tekakwitha in Quebec. Reconstruction was discussed within the MATC along with Steve Swatling, the Bigelow Preserve Manager, Gene Fredrick and Vern Heustis. Strong support was heard for replacing the Conference Bridge in 2002. Cedar logs were located along an old logging road within the Bigelow Preserve to be used for cribbing and sawn decking. The heat and humidity of late June brought out hordes of biting insects as local volunteers and the summer campers from Quebec replaced the old rock filled log cribs used as raised abutments for the new span.

One month later as volunteers and materials were assembled, I was unexpectedly called out of State. MATC volunteer extrordinaire, Tom Spring, graciously came in on short notice to coordinate the 45 individuals that collectively volunteered 692 hours to this task. During the week of August 19th, Tom Spring took detailed notes for the construction process, hauled timbers and managed the volunteers. Tom somehow found time to take excellent photographs and did this all without anyone getting hurt! By the way, during the early 2000 hiking season, Tom was also responsible for construction of the JT Horn bridge over Bog Brook, located at the East end of the Bigelow Preserve. Our sincere thanks go out to the volunteers that included 28 teenage boys & girls from Camp Tekakwitha in Quebec, plus their counselors, Paul Turcotte and Vincent Thomas. Steve Swatling and Bigelow Preserve seasonal staff, Carrabassett Valley Outdoor Recreation members, Maine Appalachian Trail Club volunteers and thru hikers. Gene Fredrick and Vern Hustis, both now in their 70's, were on hand for technical support and chain saw instruction. Additionally, the Maine Trail Crew generously pitched in after already working 40 hrs. on the Firewardens Trail. They were instrumental in getting two of the four red spruce trees across the cribs, a span of 35'. The late Dick Brown had introduced many volunteers to the rewards of trail work during his twenty five years with the Maine Appalachian Trail Club. It is largely in his memory that this bridge reconstruction took place and we plan a re dedication ceremony this Fall on Columbus Day weekend, October, 13.

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