One of the most appealing things is seeing the Mystic River Bascule Bridge raised to allow boat traffic from 7 AM to 7 PM at 40 min. past the hour every day from May through October.
It’s interesting to note that what we colloquially consider as Mystic is the area on two sides of the river belonging to two different townships Groton and Stonington. The bridge was built to span the river between the two towns. The first drawbridge was built in 1835 and was replaced several times by newer and more technically advanced models until 1922.
The bridge’s movable span is 85 feet wide by 218 feet long. It employs two concrete-filled counterweights and is driven by two direct current motors
The large commercial building was erected in 1907 by the brothers Mark and Osgood Gilbert. It served as the site of Gilbert Transportation Company, a shipyard where they built and repaired schooners. The company went bankrupt in 1909. After a fire in 1915 gutted the building, it wasn’t until 1924 when the structure was rebuilt and renamed the Main Block. The building continues to be used for retail stores and apartments.
Another famed spot within the town is no other than the Mystic Pizza restaurant which opened in 1973. The flick starring Julia Roberts was in theaters in 1988 and since then the restaurant start brandishing all the movie memorabilia.
An example of adaptive reuse, here is a former bank building turned into a brewery and taproom
Factory Square is paying homage to what has traditionally been the industrial area, it has been rehabilitated for apartments, commercial space, and a restaurant.
Located prominently on Baptist Hill in Mystic is the Union Baptist Church. Hard to see from the angle but the church is actually two joined buildings. It was first the Mariners’ Free Church, a meeting house for all denominations and then joined to the rear by the Baptist Church.
References:
- https://thisismystic.com/to-do/attractions/mystic-river-bascule-bridge/
- https://www.theday.com/local-news/20220422/history-revisited-the-evolution-of-crossing-the-mystic-river/
- https://www.thewesterlysun.com/daily-news-alerts/bridging-100-years-of-history-mystic-drawbridge-celebrates-centennial-anniversary/article_1c1e7f2a-d233-11ec-8f91-8b1c34a11e04.html
- https://oldmystichistory.org/copy-2/
- https://historicbuildingsct.com/gilbert-block-1907/
- https://www.randallrealtors.com/blog/the-story-behind-mystic-pizza/
- https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/connecticut/mystic-pizza-ct/
- https://www.livingplaces.com/CT/New_London_County/Groton_Town/Mystic_River_Historic_District.html
- http://historicbuildingsct.com/union-baptist-church-mystic-1829/
- https://www.americantowns.com/place/union-baptist-church-mystic-ct.html
