New Haven Register (New Haven, CT)
‘It’s a Guilford gem’
Aging bridge at Firemans Field in need of repairs to stop flooding
GUILFORD — Exchanging vows in front of the white gazebo, adorned with white tulle, sunflowers, roses and baby’s breath and entertaining her guests under the pavilion at Fireman’s Field made for a perfect wedding, Mollie Hendrix says.
This Guilford girl fondly remembers her wedding to Kyle Hendrix, Saturday, Sept. 1, 2018, at the MartinBishop Memorial Field, known as “Fireman’s Field.”
Only now, the bridge on the property, which crosses the West River, is crumbling and in need of some $150,000 in repairs to keep the popular venue open, volunteers say.
“Without that bridge we’re done,” said Michael Warn, chairman of the nonprofit committee in charge of Fireman’s Field.
Hendrix joins many others who have enjoyed the 7-acre park, for weddings, family gatherings, retirement parties, birthday celebrations and baby showers for decades.
Fireman’s Field held special meaning for this bride.
“I’m from Guilford and I live in South Carolina now, so my husband is from Connecticut and I really wanted to get married in my hometown,” Hendrix said. “It had everything we needed, parking, the field, the gazebo.”
“It was like a country vibe,” she described.
And her big day was perfect, she said.
“It was awesome,” she added. “The weather was perfect. The field was great. Everything — the pavilion, the gazebo — everything was super clean.”
Owned and maintained by the Guilford Volunteer Fire Department Association, Inc., the group is asking the public for help to repair the bridge at the entrance to the field.
All town fire departments are represented on the committee, including Washington Engine Company #1, Eagle Hose Company #2,
F.C. Spencer Hook and Ladder Company #3 and North Guilford Company #4.
A GoFundMe page has been created to help pay for repairs to the bridge. To date, some $3,500 has been raised, toward a $150,000 goal. To contribute visit “Martin Bishop Memorial Field Bridge Repair” on GoFundMe.
Those funds, combined with other donations sent directly to the committee, brings the total received up to $63,000.
The bridge was built in 1959, according to Warn.
The wear and tear is evident on the structure. There are deep ruts in the dirt and stone. The underbelly of the bridge is where the biggest problem exists.
“There are tubes under there and they’re from 1959 and they’re just giving way,” Warn said, pointing to a spot in the West River, which flows under the bridge.
“It probably should have been replaced about 10 years ago,” he said. “Because of a lot of different reasons, mainly money, it didn’t happen.”
Now, in response to a request from the Inlands Wetlands Commission, this crucial work must commence to fix the bridge.
Warn explains that when the river overflows, it floods the whole venue.
The biggest expense for the project was obtaining an engineer’s report on how to best proceed with the bridge repair. With that done, they can start the repair job.
According to the venue’s website, Martin-bishopfield.com, flooding has been a problem long before it became a local gathering spot.
When the group was looking for a field, the Bishop family of Bishop’s Orchards offered the parcel at a “considerable discount” because it was “prone to flooding and not suitable for agricultural use,” the website states.
As a volunteer organization, the group “lacked the capital.” So, in their search for funding two local sisters, the Martin sisters, “came forward with half of the amount needed to complete the purchase,” according to the website.
Today, guests can enjoy the lighted pavilion with handcrafted, wood picnic tables, barbecue pit and refrigeration; gazebo; regulated horseshoe pits; basketball court; softball field; swings; and restrooms with indoor plumbing and hot water and plentiful parking.
From May through September every weekend it’s booked.
“Some families have been renting it for 30 years,” said Warn. “Same date, every year.”
Former Guiford Selectwoman
Veronica Wallace was effusive when she talked about hosting a retirement party at the spot.
“It’s a Guilford gem, it really is,” she said.
Wallace originally chose the location based on the COVID-19 restrictions back in January when she started the planning process.
“It’s a big field, I can put tents up, people can be outside,” she said.
“So, for COVID purposes, it really was great,” she added. “We had a DJ, you could have as many people as you want, it’s family oriented, it’s clean. They do an awesome job of cleaning it and keeping it maintained.”
She has fond memories of the celebration.
“It was perfect,” she said. “People just had an awesome time.”
Warn is looking forward to having the bridge repaired to ensure that Fireman’s Field remains a place for gatherings for years to come.
“I’m excited because this bridge for literally the last 10 to 15 years, whenever it rained, or heaving rain, in the back of my mind I was thinking, ‘Is the bridge going to get washed out and we won’t be able to let people have their event, their wedding, their parties?’” he said.
“I want this field to be what it is, forever,” he added. “A place where community can get together.”
“I always tell people to treat it like their backyard. You have your wedding, your anniversary parties, your family reunions, this is your backyard. You have 7-acres to enjoy for your event.”