Main Street Bridge dedication & ribbon cutting

Three ceremonial vehicles were driven over the bridge after the ribbon cutting including this 1921 Manchester Fire Department fire truck driven by Jeff Mann with his son and Village president Pat Vailliencourt as passengers. This is the third new Main Street Bridge opening ceremonies of which this truck has been a part, as it was ceremonially driven during the last two bridge opening ceremonies as well.

Late Sunday afternoon, after many of the canoe race participants had loaded up their crafts and headed out of the village, a crowd gathered for the bridge dedication ceremony. Before the event started, the spectators who'd gathered were treated to a live brass band playing marches.

At 4 pm, Village council president Pat Vailliencourt took up the microphone and began her dedication speech, assuring the crowd that the council promises not to tear up anything on Main Street for a long time. She then gave descriptions of the previous five bridges and the declarations made at the time of their openings as to the long-lasting nature of each bridge.

The iron bridge dedicated in 1886, she explained, was described as "going to last forever" but of course had to be replaced in 1929 because of the invention of automobiles. Vailliencourt pointed out that that the 1929 iron and concrete bridge was expected to be enjoyed by the resident's "children's children's children," but was replaced in 1972. When reaching the present bridge, Vailliencourt, taking to heart the lesson apparent from the history she was reciting stated, "I will not say that it will last forever...unless Star Trek happens and we get beamed up ...or we get hover cars." She finished, "And then we'll wonder why we put so much money into this bridge." She then thanked everyone and especially the business owners for their patience during construction.

After her speech, Vailliencourt received two special tributes presented by an aide from state representative Gretchen Driskell's office. The first was for the Kiwanis Club in honor of the 50th year of the canoe race and was signed by Driskell and state senator Joe Hune. The second was for the Village of Manchester and was signed by Driskell, Hune and Governor Rick Snyder.

Vailliencourt thanked Village manager Jeff Wallace and the members of the Village Council, all of whom were on hand for the ceremony. Together, at the same time, they cut the large red ribbon strung across the west end of the bridge.

After the ribbon cutting, three vehicles were ceremonially driven across the bridge. The first, which has been apart of three bridge dedications now, was a 1921 Manchester Fire Department Fire Truck driven by Jeff Mann with his son and Vailliencourt as passengers. The new off road emergency rescue vehicle purchased for the fire department with donated money in honor of Cameron LaDouceur was one of the three vehicles to drive across as was a Model A driven by Barry Allen.

The sheriff department then opened the road up to regular traffic.

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by Sara Swanson

Sara Swanson is an editor, writer and founder of the Manchester Mirror.