Tech to convert bridge remnants into sculpture

LYNN – Plans are in the works to turn the century-old Belden Bly Bridge into a thing of art once it’s demolished next spring.Lynn Vocational Technical Institute Alumni board member Ron Beckett said he’s criss-crossed the bridge a dozen times and never failed to think about its impending demolition.”I had the idea that there were a lot of nice gears and things up there, and I believed we could do something with those at Tech,” he said.Then Beckett heard that Calvin Anderson of the Lynn Historical Commission had put out a call, hoping to find anyone interested in rescuing pieces of the bridge for posterity. Anderson said the commission would like to see something salvaged from the historic bridge but it has no place to put such items.Beckett said he believes Anderson was absolutely dead on.”I think it would make a wonderful ?Mechanical Motif #1,'” he said.Built in 1913, the former Fox Hill Bridge is one of the oldest cantilevered bridges in the country still in use but it is scheduled to be replaced. Work started on the temporary two-lane movable bridge that runs next to the Belden Bly in 2010 and should be finished in the spring.Beckett’s idea of using the gears and other small pieces for a sculpture is exactly what Anderson had in mind.Beckett said he has the support of Superintendent Catherine Latham and LVTI Principal Diane Paradis. He has also reached out to Testa Corp., which is the company that will handle the demolition.”I told them what we were looking to do ? Steve (Testa) said we could have anything we want,” Beckett said.Both Beckett and Anderson acknowledged Testa’s generosity in giving up pieces of the bridge. Typically the demolition crew would take the metal and sell it for scrap.”But they are absolutely behind making this sculpture park,” Anderson said.Parts of the bridge are not the only things being salvaged. Two General Electric control panels that operators suspect are original to the bridge will go to the Lynn Museum. Anderson said both the museum and Beckett have expressed interest in a dedication plaque as well.”I was worried we’d get no takers for anything, now we have to make a decision,” he said. “We’re all excited and this seems to be going smoothly.”Since the bridge isn’t scheduled to come down until spring Beckett said they will “connect all the dots” then but his plan is to install the pieces on the side lawn at LVTI. He said Paradis has already asked one of her teachers to head the project and he will work with students to design the final piece.”Everyone seems delighted, we’ve got the ball rolling, got our creative juices flowing and we’ll see what the kids at Tech can come up with,” he said. “And if any money needs to be spent I’m absolutely certain I can bring this before the (Alumni) board for help.”Chris Stevens can be reached at [email protected].