A dry stone bridge-building course was offered in September of 2009 in Russell Ontario.
Here are some of the highlights of that event.
Below are more pictures of the MacDougall Park Bridge Workshop (near Ottawa)
First day of the bridge workshop at Russell, Ontario near Ottawa.
Work began last Monday, leveling the site, where the foundations had been made, and then wheel-barrowing the 24 tons of stone to be used in building up the bridge tails and shaping voussoirs over the 12 foot span 'centering' or 'false work ' on the new dry stone MacDougall Park Bridge.
Happy wallers stand on the bridge they have been building in Russell, Ontario.
The centering has just been removed before a crowd of people and two TV news crews.
End of day 7 of the dry stone bridge workshop continuing this week in Russell, Ontario
Pictures of the first dry-laid footbridge being built in a public park in Canada.
First day of the bridge workshop at Russell, Ontario near Ottawa.
Work began last Monday, leveling the site, where the foundations had been made, and then wheel-barrowing the 24 tons of stone to be used in building up the bridge tails and shaping voussoirs over the 12 foot span 'centering' or 'false work ' on the new dry stone MacDougall Park Bridge.
A dry stone footbridge has been constructed and run in part as a workshop in MacDougall Park in Russel Ontartio, near Ottawa.
The original cedar footbridge was built around 1940 and did not survive the test of time. A new bridge has ben built using a dry stone arch technique incorporating iron railings. Dry stone bridges have stood for hundreds of years in Europe but to our knowledge it will be the first in a Canadian park.
Designed by Cindy Cluett of Beyond the House, and John Shaw-Rimmington of the Dry Stone Walling Across Canada this bridge is built using primarily local materials and contractors. A stately structure in harmony with its natural environments, Russell’s bridge is sure to be a frequently visited and photographed landmark.
The dates of the build were Aug 10-21, 2009.
Participants will be included in a book to be published about MacDougall Park Bridge. It will include stories and pictures of the original bridge, we will follow the looks and use of the park up to and including this rebuild. This book will be placed in both the library and in the Keith Boyd Museum. There will also be a commemorative plaque placed near the bridge.
Please contact shaw-rimmington@sympatico.ca to register or find out more details.
Previous CBC TV coverage on August 19th, 2009 of the MacDougall Bridge built last August.