Bridge of Flowers

If you want to see a beautiful and very colorful re-use of a former transportation route, look no further than the Bridge of Flowers.

This 400-foot-long former trolley line bridge has been converted into a garden pathway. Open from April 1 to October 31, the bridge spans the Deerfield River between Shelburne Falls and Buckland, MA. The bridge is covered includes over 500 varieties of continuously blooming flowers from April through October. Luckily, our recent visit was in late August.

The bridge was built in 1908 at a cost of $20,000 by the Shelburne Falls and Colrain Street Railway, so that freight could be picked up and dropped off directly with the railroad. 

By 1927, the street railway company went bankrupt. Automobile usage was increasing and freight began to be transported by trucks. By 1929, the bridge was abandoned and weed covered, when a local resident (Antoinette Burnham) had an idea to transform it into a garden. It wasn't needed as a footbridge, yet couldn't be torn down as it carried a water main between Shelburne Falls and the adjoining Buckland, MA.

The Shelburne Women's Club sponsored the flower project in 1928 and the following year, 80 loads of loam and several loads of fertilizer were brought to the bridge as women's clubs around town raised $1,000 for planting.

By 1975, the bridge structure was deteriorating. Funds were raised for a study that found it required nearly $600,000 in repairs which included replacing a water line. The monies were raised by various local organizations. During the restoration, every plant was removed and cared for privately.

Then, in 1983, the bridge was completely renovated, at a cost of $500,0000 and under the expertise of a local horticulturalist. Today, its upkeep relies on a paid gardener as well as volunteer help from the Shelburne Falls Women’s Club.

The history of the railway is preserved in the Shelburne Falls Trolley Museum which maintains Trolley No. 10. This trolley crossed the bridge for 30 years hauling passengers, apples, mail, milk and other freight. It was restored after being used as a shed and chicken coop. Unfortunately, the museum was closed on the day of our visit, which means we'll take a future road trip there.