Paul's Bridge

Paul's Bridge is a stone overpass over the Neponset River. It is a part of the Neponset Valley Parkway, which is in itself a Historic District. It replaced an earlier Hubbard's Bridge (prior to 1759), and a subsequent Paul's Bridge (so named at its 1807 reconstruction). It's span is approximately 88 feet. The name "Paul" can be attributed to the owner of the adjacent land on the Readville side, then part of Dedham.

The bridge was built in 1849 at a width of 23 feet, constructed of unmortared stone. It replaced two previous wooden bridges that had been on the site since the early 18th century. Each round arch measures 20 feet at the springline. Originally the pass was secured by a wooden fence with iron stanchions. It had a major rebuilding between 1932-1935 undertaken by Arthur A. Shurcliff, FASLA and founder of the AIP, who made it a priority to widen the bridge. Most of the original stone was reused and solid stone parapets replaced the wooden siderails.

At the bridge's location, the Neponset River acts as the border between Milton and the southernmost portion of Boston, Hyde Park neighborhood, which at that time was historically Dedham.

Paul's Bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972. It was designed by the Olmsted and Eliot firm, the same Frederick Law Olmsted responsible for the Emerald Necklace Park System which runs through Boston.