US Representative James McGovern    Many attended the dedication on this
               is one of the several speakers at   cool November day
               the bridge dedication ceremony.                              

     

After about a three hour delay, the
Kaplan bridge was delivered and installed - November 5, 2001
The bridge is 10 feet wide x 60 feet long and was
built by the Continental Bridge Co. in Minn.

This bridge opens a new 1.2 mile section of the CMRT in Holden, MA.
The other bridge to be installed will connect the trail with the 
West Boyston (Oakdale) section which was completed in 1997.

   On Friday, November 16, 1 P. M. there was trail clearing "Between the Bridges" on Mass Central 
Rail Trail off River Street in Holden. Participants:  Leader, Rocky Goodreau.  Colleen Abrams, 
Arnold Gaskin, Sue Hall, Stan Miller, Hank Ouellette, Bob Spindler, Peter Taylor. The crew was 
treated to a warm, sunny, 70 degree day for clearing from the Jeremiah Kaplan bridge to the future
Charlotte Kaplan bridge.  Rocky handled the chain saw, removing trees still in the trail. Bob 
handled the steel bladed weedwhacker cutting "toe tripper" stumps left from trail clearing several
years ago. Peter used his pole saw to remove high branches hanging in the trail, while the rest of 
the crew trimmed and cleared brush.  At 4 P. M. the crew confessed they were tired and headed off  
for spaghetti suppers or dancing--or maybe early to bed.

   The JK bridge dedication was held on November 10, and already many enthusiasts are finding 
their way to the trail.  The crew visited with solo, couple and family walkers, a jogger, a 
jogging dad with two young children on bicycles, and a gentleman riding an electric powered chair.




The Bancroft School students and the members of Wachusett Greenways 
set out on November 28, 2001 to remove branches left by recent tree cutting on the MC rail 
trail near the Kaplan bridge. It was a warm and sunny afternoon and the students worked very hard.
Nearly all of the road bed is now free of branches. With such a large group working together it
took only a few hours to complete the job and their effort was greatly appreciated.