Google Doodle Canada – 4th of July, 2012 is celebrating the Hartland Covered Bridge in New Brunswick Canada. One hundred and eleven years ago this bridge were constructed it crosses the Saint John River from Hartland to Somerville in Canada. The Hartland Covered Bridge, New Brunswick is the longest covered bridge in the world. The bridge is 391 meters long and was constructed in 1901.
About the Hartland Covered Bridge, New Brunswick
- In 1899 the “Hartland Bridge Company” was formed by a group of Canadian Citizens who were tired of waiting for the government to decide whether or not to build a bridge across the St. John River at Hartland.
- July 4, 1901 the bridge was officially opened with the following tolls charged: three cents for pedestrians, six cents for a single horse and wagon, twelve cents for a double team. A strip of twenty tickets could be purchased for fifty cents.
- In 1906 the provincial government took over the ownership and maintenance of the bridge and removed the tolls.
- In April of 1920 two spans of the bridge were swept away by the ice.
- In 1922 the bridge was covered and in the early years snow had to be hauled and placed on the floor so the sleds could easily travel on it in the winter.
- In 1924 Lights were installed on the bridge.
- In 1945 a sidewalk was added, which is a small bridge in itself.
- In June 23, 1980 the bridge was declared a national historic site.
- In 1982 a small car ran into the west end of the bridge on the Somerville side and did extensive damage. The bridge was closed for several months while repairs were done.
- Olympic torch was carried through the bridge as part of celebrations of the 1988 Winter Olympics held in Calgary.
- On September 1, 1995, Canada Post Corporation launched a postage stamp honouring the bridge.
- On September 15, 1999, the bridge was declared a provincial historic site.
- Festivities celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the bridge were held in 2001.
- On the 4th of July 2012 Google created a Google Doodle for the Hartland Covered Bridge, New Brunswick
4th of July Google Doodle
While Google visitors, visiting the Google Canada website today are seeing the Google celebrations of the Hartland Covered Bridge in New Brunswick Canada their neighbours in the USA are celebrating Independence Day which Google announced with there
Google Doodle.
