Mystic ― The pivotal role of the Mystic River Drawbridge in the development, and perhaps even the existence, of Mystic is detailed in a new book published by the Mystic River Historical Society and the Greater Mystic Chamber of Commerce.

“Walk Your Horses: The Story of the Mystic River Bridge,” celebrates the history of the Mystic River Highway Bridge, through its six incarnations, from a $2,500 wooden drawbridge in the early 1800s to today’s steel and concrete structure, which is the oldest bascule bridge of its kind in the country.

Co-authored by two historical society board members, retired newspaper editor Marilyn Comrie of Mystic and historical society Collections Manager Elizabeth Boucher of Groton, the book began as an exhibit at the Groton Public library.

It then morphed into a commemorative booklet for the bridge’s centennial, and at the end of their 15 months of work, the approximately 100-page coffee table book, replete with personal perspectives from locals, archival materials, and photographs that span three centuries emerged.

“This isn’t just a book about the bridge; it’s a book a lot about the history of Mystic,” said Comrie.

The title harkens back to a time before cars, when speed limits were posted based on the speed of horses rather than motor driven vehicles. The rule to walk your horses meant to keep horses to their slowest speed, a walk, while passing through town, and fines for going too fast could be a hefty four dollars.

In 1819, a rough wooden bridge was built just north of where the drawbridge stands today, and, according to the authors, paved the way for the development of Mystic.

As two small villages on either side of the river, then called Lower Mystic, transformed from a shipbuilding center to a manufacturing and industrial hub and then into today’s renowned tourist destination, the bridge provided a thoroughfare for people traveling to and from Boston before the interstate highway system was developed.

It also was the basis for the transformation of what is known as downtown Mystic.

Downtown exists because of the bridge, and not the other way around,” said Boucher, adding, “when the bridge went in, it was connecting two empty fields. East and West Main Street were built so there was a road leading up to the bridge.”

The book goes beyond the bridge itself and looks at the history of the surrounding area, chronicling the major changes to the area from the founding of Mystic in 1654 through the centennial celebration of the bridge in 2022.

A detailed timeline in the book explores the rise of Lower Mystic, as it was known, through its various stages of growth. In 1828, the Stonington half of Mystic was known as Mystic Bridge, and the Groton side was known as Portersville which became Mystic River in 1851, with Mystic referring to what is known today as Old Mystic.

“Until the bridge went in, there was nothing downriver. Everything was upriver. Old Mystic was the center of everything. It had shipbuilding up there, it had all kinds of stores—it was just a happening place,” Comrie said, explaining that all the through traffic came through Old Mystic to get to and from Boston because there was no way to cross the river.

“What struck me the most was the way the bridge pulled development away from Old Mystic. I love the story about Old Mystic becoming Old Mystic,” Boucher said.

Comrie explained that the original bridge attracted development down river, including shipbuilding, stores and eventually a bank, and in 1890, the U.S. Postal Service took the name of Mystic from the village at the head of the river, now Old Mystic, and gave it to the downtown area.

“The Old Mystic people were furious,” she said.

The book is replete with pictures and stories of bygone eras as well as more modern stories such as the beginning of Mystic Seaport Museum, hurricanes and fires, parades and wartime activities to the acquisition of Mystic River Park.

Whether it is the account of a 12-year-old buying ice cream in 1917, in an ice cream store that has spanned three centuries in various iterations and today is the Mystic Drawbridge Ice Cream Café or the stories of the bridge tenders, each story in the book highlights the significant impact the bridge has had on people all over the world, and right next door.

“Walk Your Horses,” is available for purchase at the Mystic Chamber Bascule Bridge Visitors Center in the former Mystical Toys building on West Main Street for $45.