Keystone Bridge Stabilization Project Press Release 11/05/25

Reminder – the site is closed to the public, please check here or our Facebook page for updates!

Media Contact:

Paul Godfrey
Friends of the Quabbin
413-253-5686 | 413-450-8329 (cell)
godfrey@umass.edu

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Saving History: A Race Against Time to Preserve the Quabbin Keystone Bridge

Friends of the Quabbin seeking additional funds to continue this vital project

Belchertown, MA (November 5, 2025) — The historic Keystone Bridge, built in 1866 and spanning the Middle Branch of the Swift River in New Salem, is facing imminent collapse due to severe deterioration. To prevent the loss of this unique landmark, the Friends of the Quabbin has launched an urgent stabilization effort, racing against time and the weather to preserve an irreplaceable piece of Quabbin Valley history. Regular updates, photographs of the project, and a video explaining the unique process to save it can be found at www.FriendsOfQuabbin.org/keystone.

The Friends of the Quabbin is partnering closely with the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), which owns the site as part of the Quabbin Watershed. DCR is providing engineering oversight and some materials for the project. “The Friends raised some funds to support this effort, and given its urgency, our Board agreed to use organizational reserves, if necessary,” added Friends of the Quabbin Treasurer and project coordinator Paul Godfrey. “We’ve made significant progress, but it’s taking more time and resources than expected, and our funds are running low.”

Constructed by Civil War veteran Adolphus Porter for the then-remarkable sum of $37.50 (about $900 in today’s dollars), the Keystone Bridge is a marvel of 19th-century engineering.

This elegant span crosses the Middle Branch of the Swift River, one of the streams that feed the Quabbin Reservoir, using no mortar at all. Known as a dry-stone arch bridge, it is made entirely of carefully cut and balanced stones, each one pressing against its neighbors in perfect harmony. When the final piece, the keystone, was set in 1866, the arch locked itself into place through geometry, gravity, and skill. But, over time, shifting soils and natural wear have weakened its stability, prompting immediate action to prevent total failure.

There are only a handful of bridges like it left in Massachusetts, and most are large railroad viaducts west of Westfield. The New Salem bridge, by contrast, is modest, a single arch designed for horse-drawn wagons and foot traffic, connecting the small village of Millington to Athol. For more than 150 years, it has stood quietly, enduring floods, storms, and neglect. But now, this extraordinary bridge is facing its greatest challenge yet and must be urgently stabilized.

“There are incredibly few people across the country who can do this type of work,” said Godfrey. “We are fortunate to have found Michael Weitzner, a Vermont-based mason specializing in dry-laid stone arches, to work alongside a local contractor. It’s a steep, difficult site that has required an extraordinary effort and a lot of material to stabilize.”

To make this possible, workers are constructing a stone revetment platform along the southeast side. The platform serves two purposes: it provides a stable base for the crew and heavy machinery, and it will help to stabilize the bridge once the repairs are complete.

“It’s extraordinary work on a very steep slope,” said Godfrey. “Every stone must be set with precision, mostly by hand.”

The Keystone Bridge sits within the watershed of the Quabbin Reservoir, which supplies drinking water to 2.7 million Massachusetts residents, most in the Greater Boston area. Because of the bridge’s instability, the popular trail crossing has been closed. “We had to close the trail for safety reasons,” said Godfrey. “But our goal is not only to save this vital part of history, it’s to reopen the area so visitors can once again enjoy this beautiful ‘accidental wilderness.’”

The site will remain closed during the stabilization work, but updates are being shared regularly on the Friends of the Quabbin website at www.FriendsOfQuabbin.org/keystone and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/foquabbin.

Donations to help save the Keystone Bridge can be sent to:

Friends of the Quabbin
c/o Les and Terry Campbell Visitor Center
485 Ware Road, Belchertown, MA 01007

For more information, contact Paul Godfrey at 413-450-8329 or godfrey@umass.edu.

About the Friends of the Quabbin

The Friends of the Quabbin (www.FriendsOfQuabbin.org) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and promoting the natural, cultural, and historical significance of the Quabbin Region. Through education, advocacy, and partnerships, the organization works to protect the Quabbin Watershed and share its remarkable stories with future generations.