Dorchester Bay Bridge, John J. Beades Drawbridge, Morrissey Boulevard

No. 9407 Beades Drawbridge, photograph April 11, 2007


No. 18331 Plaque on John J. Beades Drawbridge, Dorchester Bay Bridge, photograph June, 2018

The Beades Drawbridge was built in the late 1920s. As part of the construction of the Old Colony Parkway (Morrissey Boulevard), two arms of land were made, one extending south from Savin Hill and one extending north from Commercial Point with a drawbridge to span the gap, allowing boat access to Savin Hill Bay.  Work on the land-making began in 1925, and work on the drawbridge began in 1927 with completion the following year.  The Old Colony Parkway opened in 1928.  In 1978 the bridge was named by an Act of the Commonwealth as the John J. Beades Bridge in memory of Senator John J. Beades of the Dorchester section of the city of Boston, who devoted his adult life to the service of the public and in particular to the needs of the people of Dorchester.

Source:

Hero Squares. John Beades.   See link

https://www.cityofboston.gov/veterans/herosquares/view.aspx?id=1168

Swimmers Jumping off Bridge

No. 18043 Youngsters Jumping Off Malibu Bridge, September 1, 1980.

September 1, 1980, “With the temperature in the 80’s plus high humidity, youngsters cool off by jumping from the Malibu bridge, in the Dorchester section of the city.

Does anyone know who these youngsters were and where they are now?

The drawbridge was built in the late 1920s.  It was named by an Act of the Commonwealth in 1978 as the John J. Beades Bridge in memory of Senator John J. Beades of the Dorchester section of the city of Boston, who devoted his adult life to the service of the public and in particular to the needs of the people of Dorchester.

As part of the construction of the Old Colony Parkway (Morrissey Boulevard), two arms of land were made, one extending south from Savin Hill and one extending north from Commercial Point with a drawbridge to span the gap, allowing boat access to Savin Hill Bay.  Work on the land-making began in 1925, and work on the drawbridge began in 1927 with completion the following year.  The Old Colony Parkway opened in 1928.  It is 90 years old this year.

Skills

Posted on

March 21, 2020