March 29, 2024

East Shore Expressway and Deadline for the E Prov Military Service Honor Roll is August 30

EPVME history (part 5)

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After the late 1800s, if you were to travel along Warren Ave. (then known as Bristol Road) from Pawtucket Ave. to Seekonk, MA, you would have passed the Horton Brother’s dairy farm on your left. In 1958, this land was owned by 3 Wood Horton families. The land was taken by eminent domain to construct the EP Expressway. One of the dairy barns was sold and moved. Where is the barn located now?

On the south side of Warren Ave., land near today's RIDOT highway facility, to the rocks by Hatton Dr., Evergreen Drive, extending back to RISHO Ave., Hemingway Drive, and Amaral St. was McCormick's quarry. In the 1920s, primitive horsetail calamite plant fossils were found here. (Some are on display in the Roger Williams Park Museum of Natural History.) McCormick's quarry was the source of rocks and gravel used the build the cobble stone roads throughout EP, RI, and New England. In 1929-1930, McCormick's company helped build today's south side arches of the Washington Bridge over the Seekonk River.

After the business closed, the old quarry was a popular swimming hole. In the 1950s, it was filled in to create the East Shore Expressway (ESE). The ESE connects the EP Expressway (I-195) to the Wampanoag Trail (Route 114). This road serves as an evacuation route for cities and towns on low lying flood zone land at or below sea level in south eastern RI. As you drive this road through Bristol, Warren, towards E. Providence, you will see evacuation route signs. Where is the evacuation shelter?

In 1959, the south bound bridge over Warren Ave. from the EP Expressway to the ESE was named the McCormick Quarry bridge. The one-way span over Route 195 from the ESE was named the Horton Farm bridge. Today when driving on I-195 from MA to E. Prov., a sailboat mural on the southeastern foundation of this span welcomes travelers to the Ocean State.

In 1961, these bridges were named for WWII veterans Gustaf Soderlund, Andrew Martin, James Garvin, and Charles Storm Jr., respectively. The north bound bridge over Warren Ave. leaving the ESE was named for WWII veterans Clifford Jackson and Gordon Reid. The bridge memorial signs have been missing for over 40 years. Soon new memorial bridge signs shall appear.

Held up on wooden blocks since the 1970s, the recent 2016-2019 replacement of these bridge foundations and roadways was completed ahead of schedule using new construction techniques. To date, 13 of the 14 original bridges on the EP Veterans Memorial Expressway (EPVME) have been replaced.

EP Military Service Honor Roll deadline is August 30

Documenting names so their military service is not forgotten, the deadline for correcting and submitting names of past and present E. Prov. residents who are veterans and members of the military is Aug. 30. Names of EP residents (EP, Rumford, Riverside) who served in any war, any time before or after a war, in peacetime, and any reserves event since WWII or are active duty serving now in the military and reserves, who were KIA or came home alive, can be submitted. Non-EP residents (ex. Seekonk) who attended E P High School are included. Minimal info needed "in memory of (dead) " or "in honor of (alive)" last name, rank, first name, middle name or initial, war or name of the military event served in (or years, country), and service branch. Include KIA, POW, MIA, active duty, National Guard, etc. Optional: awards, medals, job description, etc. Ex. in memory of Carlton, Lt. Donald E., WWI, Army. If not known, state "unknown rank" or "unknown branch". If desired, you may ask to have your name removed. Email to epvme@hotmail.com  You will receive an emailed confirmation.

This virtual EP Military Service Honor Roll is posted at ephist.org under "City Wide Project". These honor roll names will appear in another veterans' tribute visual presentation. This detailed documentation of names (with no email or contact info) will be presented to the City of E. Prov. during the Nov. 6th ceremony of the 60th anniversary re-dedication of the EP Expressway for all EP Veterans. Ceremony, parade, meet and salute, 1-3 pm at Pierce Field.

Read https://sites.google.com/view/EPVMER2021  for names of EP veterans with individual war memorials. A book with short biographies is being written about them. Learn more about volunteers needed (ex. to direct traffic in parking lot, live trumpet players of Taps or tape recording is needed) for this special Nov. 6th Veterans' Day celebration. Watch the "Tribute to EP WWII Veterans" at the end of this webpage.

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