Cape Cod Bridge Will Be Dedicated To World War II Private This Weekend

HARWICH, MA — A bridge on the border of Harwich and Chatham will be dedicated to a World War II private this weekend.

The dedication of the Muddy Creek Bridge on Head of the Bay Road — Rt. 28 — in East Harwich to Pvt. Joseph Conrad Blute is scheduled for Saturday at 10 a.m.

The bridge, constructed in 2016 over Muddy Creek at the Harwich-Chatham town line, will be dedicated in honor of Blute, a Harwich resident who died during World War II.

Blute was a member of the United States Army, 342nd Infantry Regiment, 44 Division, who died on Dec. 17, 1944. He is buried among 10,480 fellow soldiers at the Lorraine American Cemetery in Saint Avold, France.

He was a student at Boston College when he enlisted and has several family members who still reside in Harwich.

"His body never made it back to this country and his family is very proud for this bridge dedication," police said.

To facilitate this event, Rt. 28 at the bridge will be closed from approximately 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. The closure will impact areas in both Harwich and the Town of Chatham.

Officials said the best parking for the event is on Bay Road.