Thanks to the Many Supporters of Fitch's Bridge

Dear Editor,

The Groton Greenway Committee thanks the many people who attended and participated in the Dedication Ceremony of the new Fitch's Bridge, Sept. 15.  We celebrated the new span over the beautiful Nashua River re-connecting the communities of Groton and West Groton, providing safe crossing for pedestrians, bicyclists and equestrians while connecting 100 miles of trails.

We thank our speakers, State Senator Eileen Donoghue, State Representative Sheila Harrington, Selectman Peter Cunningham, Jean Fitch Best (representing the Fitch family and describing the family's long historical relationship to the river crossing), David Manugian and Town Manager and Master of Ceremonies Mark Haddad.  Additionally, the Greenway Committee thanks John Wiesner and the Pebble Bottom River Kids with Ukulele guests for their lively river songs.  We also express appreciation to the Groton Trails Committee which made arrangements for people to meet to hike and bike to the bridge and to the horsemen who met at Groton Fairgrounds and rode over together.

Most particularly, the Groton Greenway Committee thanks the many individuals, town boards, organizations and businesses which over the past quarter of a century have sought creatively to restore/replace Fitch's Bridge. Many of these individuals are now deceased or have moved from the area.  Of those deceased, three deserve special thanks and recognition for their significant help. They are: Frank Belitsky, Vic Burton and Harlan Fitch.  Of those among the living, two deserve special thanks and recognition for their valiant efforts to restore historic Fitch's Bridge.

They are: Richard Chilcoat and Jim Western. Groton Greenway Committee especially thanks David Manugian, West Groton resident and civil engineer and chair of the Fitch's Bridge Committee, for his extraordinary commitment over these past 10 years to bring the proposed project to completion; Mark Haddad, Town Manager, for assisting our Committee to bring the article to vote at Town Meeting; and, to all residents who supported the article to fund the replacement of the bridge at the Jan. 26 Special Town Meeting this year.

Groton Greenway Committee

David Pitkin, Chair

Adam Burnett

Carol Coutrier

Fran Stanley