On June 14, 1913, the East Haddam Swing Bridge officially opened on Flag Day. The pin-connected drawbridge designed by Alfred P. Boller, an authority on deep bridge foundations, was fabricated by the American Bridge Company. The bridge’s construction allowed the state to retire ferry service, which had begun in 1694, now that it had more modern means for travelers to cross the Connecticut River between East Haddam and Haddam. One of the first bridges in Connecticut paid for by the state, the East Haddam project led the legislature to form a special commission, which eventually enacted legislation that placed the control and responsibility of trunk line bridges—bridges that handled long-distance through traffic—with the State Highway Department.

The June 14 celebration included an address by Governor Simeon E. Baldwin, a 17-gun salute, an automobile parade, and a concert that drew thousands to the event.