The Little Bird© A Twice-Weekly Newsletter For Curious Seniors Nancy A. Franks, Editor Week Of September 27th - October 3rd, 2020 Issue I Topic: Canal “Where’d you hear that?” “The Little Bird told me!”

Cape Cod Canal Numbers

Canal construction began June 22, 1909 on June 22, 1909.

The July 29, 1929 opened on July 29, 1929. The length of the Cape Cod 17.4 Canal is 17.4 miles. 14,000 vessels transit the 14,000 canal each year.

“It Was Our Idea!” Although the Cape Cod Canal was not completed until 1929, two notable men suggested building the canal over two centuries earlier.

In the late 1620s, Captain Miles Standish of the Plimoth Colony first proposed the idea of building a waterway from Cape Cod Bay to Buzzards Bay. Without a canal, traveling to the Aptucxet

Captain Miles Standish Trading Post on the banks of the Manomet River General George Washington involved carrying a canoe over land for three miles. Unfortunately, the small colony could not manage such a grand project.

During the Revolutionary War, General George Washington noted that a canal would increase security for the American fleet. In 1776, he ordered Thomas Machin of the Continental Army to survey the area and investigate how this could be done.

“But I Got It Done!” It was wealthy businessman, August Belmont, who brought the dream of a canal to reality. His last name may sound familiar. He built Belmont Park. Man O’ War was one of his prized thoroughbreds, winning all but one of his twenty-one races. Belmont also financed the construction of the original New York Subway.

August Belmont As he lifted a ceremonial shovel of dirt on June 22, 1909, August Belmont Source: New England Historical Society made a promise to stick with the project until its completion. In spite of a long list of challenges including mammoth boulders and punishing winter storms, Belmont kept his word. The Cape Cod Canal opened just over five years later, on July 29, 1914.

Opening Day The SS Rose Standish was the first passenger ship to transit the Cape Cod Canal. On board was August Belmont.

The ship was named after the first wife of Miles Standish. Rose Standish died in 1620, just a few months after the Pilgrims established the Plimoth Colony.

The SS Rose Standish led a parade of ships through the canal, while spectators cheered

Rose Standish (Source: historicnewengland.org) from the banks. Although World War I had begun just one day earlier, the mood was quite festive.

The New York Boat Having A Whale Of A Time Poet Marjorie Basset lived near the Cape Cod Canal. During the 1940s and 1950s, Basset’s poem, The New York Boat was included on a popular post card.

The New York Boat Have you ever been down by the Cape Canal When the New York boat went through?

Of all the sights I love so well That one is ever new. In July 2019, the Cape Cod Canal marine traffic

It is fun to ride along awhile controllers received a surprising call - there was a humpback whale swimming in the canal. Then to stop by the bank to wait. It’s fun to watch the folks arrive Patrol boat crews discovered the whale near the

Some early and some late. . The Harbormaster from nearby

Now if you’ve never been Wareham, worked with the Army there to see the boat go by. Corp Of Engineers to protect the whale as it You’ve missed a sight beyond transited the Canal, keeping all boat traffic at a compare. safe distance. The boats also attempted to keep I’m going to tell you why. the whale on a steady course, straight down the

center. People walking, biking, and fishing along At dusk the Old Cape Cod the canal were thrilled with the rare opportunity Canal to observe the whale. Takes on a glamourous hue. Cape Cod Canal Numbers And ‘tis a glorious sport at The depth of the Cape Cod Canal which to dwell 32 is 32 feet.

While the New York boat The width of the Cape Cod Canal goes through. 480 is 480 feet.

A Tale Of Two Highway Bridges Two “sister bridges” carry vehicles across the Cape Cod Canal - the Sagamore Bridge closer to Cape Cod Bay and the closer to Buzzards Bay.

Bourne Bridge (Source: Mass.Live.com) Sagamore Bridge (Source: CBS ) Construction on the bridges began in 1932, providing jobs for approximately 700 men during the Great Depression. On June 22, 1935, the two bridges opened to traffic.

The two four-lane arch bridges share several similarities. Each bridge has a 135-foot ship clearance. Both bridges have a 6-foot wide sidewalk for pedestrians and bicycles.

One visible difference is the length of the two bridges. Due to the topography of the area, the Bourne Bridge is 976 feet longer than the Sagamore Bridge.

New Canal Bridges On The Horizon Long-range plans are underway to replace the two bridges. The new bridges will have wider lanes. There will also be a designated area for bicycles and pedestrians. A construction timeline provided by the Army Corps Of Engineers recommends that The construction of a new Sagamore Bridge take place between 2025 and 2029. Construction of a new Bourne Bridge will follow, from 2030 to 2034.

The Canal’s Iconic Railroad Bridge Cruise Ships In The Canal

The Cape Cod Canal Railroad Bridge (Source: The Army Corp Of Engineers) The World (Source: capecod.com) When the Cape Cod Canal Railroad Bridge Tourists and locals often hold their breath as they opened in 1933, it was the longest vertical lift watch a cruise ship pass under the Railroad Bridge. railroad bridge in the world. Today, it holds the That was certainly true when, The World, transited #2 spot in the United States. the Canal in 2015. The World remains the largest private residence ship cruising the seas. It takes just 2.5 minutes for the 2,200 ton center span to be lowered or raised. This is done with the In October 2016, an aluminum mast on the Viking help of two 1,100 counter weights that hang within Star struck the underside of the Railroad Bridge. the bridge’s towers. When the center span is Fortunately, the only damage to the bridge was lowered, the counterweights rise. As the some chipped paint. counterweights are lowered, the center span rises. Sources: www.nae.usace.army.mil/Missions/Civil-Works/Navigation/Massachusetts/Cape-Cod-Canal, Don’t miss the next issue of xxx www.nae.usace.army.mil/Portals/74/docs/Recreation/CCC/Brochures/Canal_Overview_Trifold.pdf. The Little Bird! www.nae.usace.army.mil/Portals/74/docs/Recreation/CCC/Brochures/Activity_Book.pdf, The Little https://www.history.com/topics/us-states/a-challenging-story-the-cape-cod-canal-video, The topic will be: Pumpkins. Bird