21st Century
Samuel Morey Memorial Bridge Rededication
1938 - 2003
The Orford-Fairlee bridge was constructed in 1937-38 to replace an eighty year old covered bridge that had been severely damaged by flood waters in 1936. Its original dedication ceremony took place on June 29, 1938. The landmark structure is now valued as an unusual and excellent example of engineering and bridge design. In 1997, the bridge received nationwide recognition when it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
In accordance with 1937 Acts of the New Hampshire and Vermont legislatures, the bridge is officially named the Samuel Morey Memorial Bridge. Samuel Morey was an early inventor of the use of steam and gas power. He was born in Hebron, Connecticut in 1762 and four years later moved to Orford with his family. A self-taught engineer, he successfully operated a steamboat near the site of today's bridge in 1793, well before Robert Fulton's "Clermont". He conducted over 4,000 experiments and in 1826 he patented the first internal combustion engine. Samuel Morey lived his last years in Fairlee, died there at the age of 80, and is buried in the West Cemetery in Orford.
Rededication Celebration
- Celebration Program
- Orford, New Hampshire and Fairlee, Vermont
- Saturday, May 17, 2003
- Welcome ...
David Bischoff (on right), Chairman, Orford Board of Selectmen - “America, the Beautiful” (Carey) ...
- Lyme Town Band
- Introduction of Special Guests
- David Bischoff
Remarks ... - Douglass Teschner (on right)
- NH State Representative 1988-1998; 2000-2002
- Presentation of Certificates of Appreciation to
- E.D. Swett, Inc.
- Odyssey Contracting Corporation
- Morrill Construction, Inc.
- John Seely, NH Department of Transportation
- Presented by Raymond S. Burton, NH Executive Council (on right)
- Letter from ...
- Congressman Charles F Bass Bill Williams
- Director, North Country Office, Littleton, NH
- “On the Mall” (Goldman)
- Lyme Town Band
- Remarks ...
- Carol Murray, NH Commissioner of Transportation
- “Stars and Stripes Forever” (Sousa)
- Lyme Town Band
Commemorative Plaque Unveilings
- 1938 Plaque, Orford
- Introduction D Bischoff and Commissioner Murray
- Unveiling Laura Washburn Verry, Orford High School, Class of 1938
- 2003 Plaque, Orford
- Introduction James McConaha, Director, NH Division of Historical Resources
- Unveiling : Kate Mitchell, Rivendell Academy, Class of 2003
- 1938 Plaque, Fairlee
- Introduction by Jay Barrett, Chairman, Fairlee Selectboard
- and Pat McDonald, Secretary of Vermont Department of Transportation
- Unveiling by Russell Smith, Orford High School, Class of 1950
- 2003 Plaque, Fairlee
- Introduction Eric Gilbertson, Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer
Vermont Division for Historic Preservation - Unveiling by Joshua Larabee, Rivendell Academy, Class of 2003
- “God Bless America” (Berlin)
- Lyme Town Band
-
The 2003 plaque reads: - The Samuel Morey Memorial Bridge was listed on The National Register of Historic Places on December 8, 1997
-
The 1938 plaque reads: - The Samuel Morey Memorial Bridge erected 1937 by the states of New Hampshire and Vermont assisted by the Federal Government dedicated 1938 Captain Samuel Morey, born 1762 - died 1843, first successfully applied steam power to the navigation of a boat at this place on the Connecticut River 1793 This bridge replaces a covered wooden bridge destroyed by high water March 19, 1936
