Covered Bridges of New Hampshire

by Kim Varney Chandler

Overview

An engaging and well-illustrated history of the covered bridges in New Hampshire, featuring historical photos of each bridge paired with color images.

The author partnered with bridgewrights, timber framers, bridge engineers, historical societies, town offices, libraries, state and national organizations, and community members to compile extensive histories of each bridge. There are over 60 authentic covered bridges in New Hampshire; 46 of which are over a century old. These bridges exist today solely because of the efforts of a small but powerful community who both recognized their significance and honored their tradition. These covered bridges are an integral part of the fabric of New Hampshire’s history, but each bridge has its own story to tell. Some have stood sentry over their waterways without incident; others have risen like a phoenix from the ashes after a tragedy took them down.

The covered bridges serve as touchstones, providing a link from here to there and from then to now. These are their stories.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781942155522
Publisher:	Peter E. Randall Publisher
Publication date:	11/15/2022
Pages:	288
Product dimensions:	7.90(w) x 9.90(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Kim Varney Chandler is a natural researcher, amateur genealogist, photographer, bird watcher, and dog lover. She is a two-time graduate of the University of New Hampshire (’91, ’96G), where her love of history began in Professor Charles Clark’s classroom in Horton Hall. But rather than boldly changing majors, she settled on a history minor instead. Her love of history has been nothing more than a hobby with which to annoy friends and family. Until now. When not immersed in the past, Kim works as a high school counselor and commits an inordinate amount of time to volunteer work. Kim is a life-long resident of New Hampshire, except for two stints living south of the Mason-Dixon. She lives in Hancock with her husband, Marshell, and Pemi, the hiking therapy dog.

Table of Contents

Preface vii

Gratitude ix

Things to Know xii

Historic Preservation Efforts xv

Bridgewrights xvii

Introduction xx

Ashuelot Bridge, Winchester 1

Coombs Bridge, Winchester 6

Slate Bridge, Swanzey 9

West Swanzey Bridge, West Swanzey 13

Sawyer's Crossing Bridge, Swanzey 17

Carlton Bridge, Swanzey 21

Hancock-Greenfield Bridge, Hancock and Greenfield 25

Rowell Bridge, West Hopkinton 30

Contoocook Railroad Bridge, Hopkinton 35

Dalton Bridge, Warner 40

Waterloo Bridge, Warner 44

Bement Bridge, Bradford 47

Keniston Bridge, Andover 52

Cilleyville-Bog Bridge, Andover 55

Corbin Bridge, Newport 59

McDermott Bridge, Langdon 64

Prentiss Bridge, Langdon 69

Cornish-Windsor Bridge, Cornish, NH and Windsor, VT 72

Blacksmith Shop Bridge, Cornish 80

Dingleton Hill Bridge, Cornish 84

Blow-Me-Down Bridge, Cornish 87

Meriden Bridge, Plainfield 91

Edgell Bridge, Lyme 95

Haverhill-Bath Bridge, Bath 98

Bath Bridge, Bath 105

Swiftwater Bridge, Bath 112

Mount Orne Bridge, Lancaster, NH and Lunenburg, VT 116

Mechanic Street Bridge, Lancaster 122

Groveton Bridge, Northumberland 126

Columbia Bridge, Columbia, NH and Lemington, VT 130

Pittsburg-Clarksville Bridge, Pittsburg and Clarksville 135

Happy Corner Bridge, Pittsburg 138

River Road Bridge, Pittsburg 140

Stark Bridge, Stark 142

Sentinel Pine Bridge, Franconia Notch 147

Flume Bridge, Franconia Notch 149

Blair Bridge, Campton 154

Turkey Jim's Bridge, Campton 160

Bump Bridge, Campton 164

Smith Millennium Bridge, Plymouth 167

Durgin Bridge, Sandwich 174

Whittier Bridge, Ossipee 178

Swift River Bridge, Conway 184

Saco River Bridge, Conway 189

Albany Bridge, Albany 193

Bartlett Bridge, Bartlett 198

Jackson Bridge, Jackson 202

Pier Railroad Bridge, Newport 206

Wright's Railroad Bridge, Newport 208

Sulphite Railroad Bridge, Franklin 213

New England College Bridge, Henniker 217

Clark's Bridge, Lincoln 220

Squam River Bridge, Ashland 223

Stowell Road Bridge, Merrimack 229

Packard Hill Bridge, Lebanon 232

Tannery Hill Bridge, Gilford 235

Stoney Morrell Bridge, Conway 238

Friendship Bridge, Wentworth 241

Snyder Brook Bridge, Randolph 246

Old Russell Hill Road Bridge, Wilton 249

Rollins Farm Bridge, Rollinsford 252

References 255

About the Author 266

Index 267

Editorial Reviews

While there have been many books written about New Hampshire’s covered bridges over the years, this one is by far the most comprehensive. Kim has thoroughly researched each bridge and provided documentation to support, and sometimes correct, the stories found in other books and periodicals.

Bill Caswell

A must book for covered bridge enthusiasts and historians. No other book on covered bridges goes into such historical detail.

Robert H. Durfee

I have provided engineering services for many historic covered bridges in New Hampshire. Kim’s extensive research and passion for covered bridges is evident in her writing and has provided me with a much greater insight into the history of New Hampshire’s covered bridges.

Sean T. James/ Hoyle

Kim has thoroughly investigated the building and work on covered bridges as well as many other important facts about these historic structures that seem to be getting lost in the fast society of today. She has also chronicled personal information and stories pertaining to the folklore surrounding the centuries of authentic covered bridge building. I am keenly anticipating the reading of the book.

Arnold M. Graton/ Master Covered Bridgewright