Not the Fastest Route!
Today we zigged and zagged from Wilmington, VT to our new home base in Lincoln, NH. Normally a 2.5-hour drive, today it took us a lot longer as we straddled River Road and Highways 12 and 5 to see six covered bridges in Vermont and New Hampshire.
To start at the beginning of this series, visit A New England Autumn.
Hall Covered Bridge (VT)
If you’ve read many of my posts, you know we usually try to take the scenic route, especially when we don’t have a long day of driving ahead. Today we have six covered bridges to see on a wonderful autumn day, with lovely leaves gleaming in the sunlight and great views of the rivers below. What a great way to start the relocation process!
Located in Bellows Falls, VT, the Hall Bridge (1982) (also pictured above) crosses over the Saxtons River – a 22.9-mile-long tributary of the Connecticut.
“The Hall Bridge stands at the north side of Route 121, just 3.2 miles from U.S. Route 5. Sanford Granger, the premier builder in the area, built the bridge in 1867 using the plank-lattice truss. Unfortunately, Granger’s bridge collapsed under a truck in 1980. The 120-foot structure that now spans Saxtons River was erected in 1982 by Milton Graton and Sons as an authentic replacement, using traditional methods and materials.
The original bridge was on the National Register of Historic Places. The replica has been designated a scenic resource by the town. It once served Barber Park, the town’s celebrated amusement park and picnic grove. Today it serves unpaved Paradise Hill Road leading to Bellows Falls’ village forest.” ~ READ MORE
Historic Dingleton Hill Covered Bridge (NH)
The Dingleton Hill Bridge is an excellent example of a multiple Kingpost Truss type all-wood covered bridge at 81 feet long and 16.5 feet wide.
“The Dingleton Hill Covered Bridge, also known as the Cornish Mills Bridge, is a historic wooden covered bridge, carrying Root Hill Road over Mill Brook in Cornish Mills, New Hampshire. Built in 1882, it is one of the state’s few surviving 19th-century covered bridges. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. It carries one lane of traffic, with a posted weight limit.” ~ READ MORE
Historic Cornish (NH) – Windsor (VT) Covered Bridge
The Cornish-Windsor Covered Bridge crosses the Connecticut River between Cornish, NH and Windsor, VT. Before the Smolen-Gulf Bridge opened in Ohio in 2008, it was the longest covered bridge (still standing) in the United States. There were three previous bridges built on this site in 1796, 1824 and 1828. Built in 1866, the current bridge is approximately 449 feet long and 24 feet wide. The structure uses a lattice truss patented in 1820 and 1835 by Ithiel Town (1784–1844).
The image just below is a link to a video from the Vermont Historical Society. It has some great interior shots and close-ups of the bridge, as well as a little more history. I found it interesting why the toll was cheaper when traveling to Cornish from Windsor than the return trip.
“From 1866 through 1943, it operated as a toll bridge. According to a 1966 report by the New Hampshire Division of Economic Development, the bridge was plenty long enough to earn the name “kissin’ bridge”, a vernacular of covered bridges referring to the brief moment of relative privacy while crossing.” ~ READ MORE
Martin’s Mill Covered Bridge (VT)
Located on Martinsville Road in Hartland, VT, Martin’s Mill Bridge was built in 1881 with a plank-lattice truss. It crosses Lulls Brook and is almost 137 feet long. It was very difficult to get a side view of this bridge given its steep embankments, but it’s still fun to cross another piece of history off our list.
“Martin’s Mill Bridge stands in the midst of the remains of a nineteenth century industrial complex. The bridge is said to have once carried a penstock to power the works here.” ~ READ MORE
North Hartland/Willard Twin Covered Bridges (VT)
Spanning the Ottauquechee River with two bridges just above two sets of falls was a very impressive undertaking back in 1870. The eastern bridge (Willard) remained intact when the western one (North Hartland) was destroyed by a hurricane in 1938 and replaced by a steel bridge, only to be replaced by a new covered bridge in 2001.
“It’s very rare to have a steel-constructed bridge replaced by a wooden covered bridge, but the town decided that they wanted to put a wooden bridge back in there, and the State went along with that.” ~ from the Vermont Covered Bridge Society
Just below is a link to a video of a vehicle driving through both bridges. Fast forward to about 10 minutes into the video, and continue for some great shots of the bridges and the river.
“The Willard Twin Covered Bridges in North Hartford, Vermont are a real pair of bridges. Located just a short drive from the “bustling metropolis” of White River Junction, these charming little bridges are the perfect covered bridges to explore. These bridges are one set of two that I’m aware of in Vermont that are so close together that you can photograph one from inside the other.” ~ READ MORE and see a fabulous arial shot with both bridges in fabulous fall colors!
Historic Edgell Covered Bridge (NH)
Edgell Bridge is located on River Rd in Lyme, NH. Built in 1885 by an eighteen year old, it’s standing the test of time with pretty minor repairs over its long lifetime. At 132-feet long, just over 21-feet wide and having a six-ton weight limit, this is a pretty sturdy little bridge. It crosses Clay Brook and is one of only 54 remaining covered bridges in New Hampshire of its original 400. The Edgell Bridge is eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places.
“The bridge was built in 1885 by Walter Piper when he was only eighteen years old for a total cost of $1,825.27. It was assembled on the town common and moved by oxcart to the planned location.” ~ READ MORE
Our New Digs
We arrived safely at our new home away from home in New Hampshire. We got unloaded and walked to One Love Brewery for great beers and a delicious dinner while listening to some live music. One gentleman playing a guitar and singing was a great way to end a fun day, hunting down historic covered bridges.
Next up: A Beautiful Ending
Happy trails,
Barb
