Did you know that there have been six different bridges spanning Bass River? One has been replaced three times, while two others are no longer in existence.

Bass River was a great obstacle to east-west travel on Cape Cod in the 17th and 18th century. Because passage was only available by land on the north side of the Cape, it was only natural that the bay side developed first. There were several ferry locations on the river, but those depended upon time, weather, and where the ferry was located when you needed it. Murphy’s Law dictated that the ferry was always on the other side if you needed it, or it had stopped operating for the day.

An early map showing one ferry crossing near the current bridge. Annotations courtesy of Ben Muse.

Early in the 19th century, people were expressing the need for bridges. They were opposed by those who didn’t want to spend the money, and those who owned the ferries. Another issue was that bridges blocked the river for sailing vessels. Having a draw bridge limited movement for those under sail, especially in a contrary wind.

BRIDGE #1

It was natural that the first bridge would have been on that part of the river where larger vessels didn’t venture. After the War of 1812, Cape Cod entered what is called the golden age of commerce. As prosperity grew, the need for travel increased. The first bridge was located about 200 yards south of the present railroad bridge, in a narrow spot known as the second narrows. In 1815, Dennis approved the bridge and the state legislature approved the incorporation of the bridge company. They could build the bridge, charge tolls, but couldn’t raise the toll price for 75 years. The bridge was 18 feet wide and 60 feet long. The toll was 2 cents. Wheelbarrows cost an extra cent.

It didn’t take long before the bridge needed repair. In 1821 the Yarmouth town meeting refused to vote any money for repair of the bridge. Three years later, however, Yarmouth relented and agreed to pay one-third of the cost.

BRIDGE #2

By the 1830s, it was obvious that there was a better location for crossing the river. The present upper bridge (Highbank Bridge), running from Yarmouth to South Dennis, was built as a toll bridge in 1833. The toll house was on the Dennis side, north of the road. Some of the wood was used from the first bridge, as it was no longer needed.

Upper bridge, with the Dennis toll house.

The bridge’s impact on South Dennis was immediate, and the area near Liberty Hall developed into a commercial center. Many of the houses and buildings in the area were built after the bridge was constructed. The upper bridge was rebuilt in 1891 and it was improved in 1913 by using concrete. It was replaced again in 1953.

BRIDGE #3

People in South Yarmouth and in West Dennis didn’t feel that the upper bridge was of much help. Even before the upper bridge had been built, David Killey of South Yarmouth requested in 1805 that the two towns build a lower bridge. Yarmouth voted yes at their March 4th meeting, provided there was no expense to the town, but Dennis voted no. Killey was finally appeased by being allowed to extend a wharf on the Dennis side as a landing for his ferry.

Interest in the bridge continued, as evidence of a Bass River Lower Bridge Company being incorporated by the state legislature in 1823. Dennis still opposed the bridge, and nothing was built during the 1820s.

Finally, the proprietors of the unbuilt bridge, who were by now incorporated, convinced both towns, received state approval, and had a bridge built in the 1830s. The toll? One cent, lower than the upper bridge - competition perhaps? Built by Freeman Crowell of South Yarmouth, the tollhouse this time was on the Yarmouth side.

In 1869, the state legislature passed a law making both bridges toll free as they were part of the public roadways.

A replacement bridge (same location), with county help, was built of wood in 1892, with a drawbridge in the middle. This bridge was called Long Bridge up until it was replaced 15 years later. The 1907 bridge sat on an embankment of earth placed in the center of the river. There was a larger drawbridge over the deeper channel on the western side, but also a smaller one over the shallow channel on the Dennis side to allow for the passage of boats.

The present bridge was built between 1932-1935, partly as a WPA project. This bridge took extra time because excavators had to remove the embankment in the middle of the river.

BRIDGE #4

While the present bridge was being constructed, a temporary wooden span was erected as a footbridge. It had a small draw opening to let boats pass through. It was torn down when the present bridge was completed.

BRIDGE #5

After the Civil War, a different kind of bridge spanned Bass River. With the war over, and the Cape changing, the railroad was extended to Dennis in 1865 requiring a railroad crossing of the river. No longer used by trains, this bridge is now part of the Cape Cod Rail Trail.

BRIDGE #6

The final bridge across Bass River was the Mid-Cape Highway bridge. The building of the present Route 6 began in 1950 and in 1955, the road was extended to Dennis.

Today, Bass River is just a scenic river, easy to cross, except during the height of tourist season. If you wish for the good old days, imagine waiting for a ferry to come across the river to get you. Even stranger, imagine what would it be like if the proposed canal had been built, running up Bass River and ending at Bass Hole. We’ll save that story for another day.

Excerpted from an article researched and written by Duncan Oliver.