THE NEW SPAN is hoisted into place across Mill Stream. (NEWS Photo by Michael Gordon) Footbridge links old, new museums NEWS Ellsworth Bureau SOMESVILLE - The Mount Desert Island Historical Society last week literally bridged the old and the new The link was a newly built, 60-foot-long wooden footbridge, gently set by a crane Thursday morning across Mill Stream, which sepa- rates the historical society s old and new museums The $5,500 pine arched bridge. financed by Dr. Virginia Sander- son, a member of the Somesville-based historical society, is dedicat- ed to her grandfather, Thadeus Somes, a descendant of the original founder of Somesville The historical society last summer discussed building the bridge Sanderson donated the needed funds in September The society hired Bar Harbor architect Roc Caivano, who de- signed the new $20,000 museum on Route 102, to draw up plans for the footbridge Harris Hyman of Lyman was project engineer Brian Hamor. the Somesville contractor who built the new Somes ville museum, was hired to build the footbridge Police stopped traffic on Route 102 for at least 20 minutes Thurs day as a a crane wheeled the bridge from the new museum $ parking lot onto Route 102 From there. it hoisted the structure and swung II carefully out over the stream, settling itena prebuilt foundation More than two dozen spectators - reportedly including vacation ing U.S. Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger - looked on as the white-stained bridge was nestled into position The historical society $ next project is transformation of its old museum into a display of that for which it was originally used Mount Desert $ first town office. Manikins may be used to represent Abram Somes and the town's two other original selectmen at work in the building The old museum should be renovated this summer. Some work already has been done Girl Scouts Stephanie Demas and Gerry Tyler painted the back of the building's exterior as a community project The historical society's new museum will hold its grand opening from 2 to 5 p.m. Wednesday July 7. The public is invited. The building will be open Wednesdays and Sundays until Labor Day The new museum and footbridge are not the only items of interest for visitors to Somesville this summer. About 300 people are expect- ed to attend the MDI Historial Society's seventh annual Strawberry Festival at 5 p.m. Friday, July 9. The event, featuring fresh, home made strawberry shortcake, is held on the lawn of the Somesville Library.on Route 102