1. Albany Covered Bridge Spanning Swift River - off Kancamagus Highway, White Mountains. NH ( Ed. - Paddleford Truss 1858 located at Covered Bridge Campground)

2. Albany Covered Bridge over Swift River, Kancamagus Highway, White Mountains, NH - Winter view

3. Ashuelot (Upper Village) (160x17) (1850's) Winchester, Ashuelot, NH. An elaborate 2 span Town lattice type with sides unsheathed. Described as, "pure American Gothic architecture adapted to bridge building." (Ed. - 1864 AKA Upper Village Bridge See a couple more views of this one below w/more info)

4. Bagley (80x14) (1800) Warner. A town lattice design. Closed to traffic. Warner, NH (Photo by Loran Percy)

5. Bedell Covered Bridge Haverhill, NH

6. Bement (71x16) (1854) Bradford, Warner (West Branch). A Long type structure, it is the nearest of the four bridges spanning the Warner River. Bradford, NH (Photo by Loran Percy) (Ed. - Long Truss that is SE of Bradford)

(Ed. - Not sure about "nearest" to what point of reference but I assume it is to the southern end, closest to bottom of the state of NH.)

1. Blair (300x141/2) (1828) Campton, Pemigewasset. One of the three covered bridges in Campton and by far the oldest and longest. A 2-span Burr type bridge. Campton, NH (Ed. - This info from card does not not jive with a listing of Blair Bridge from tour that states: 1869 restored 1983 Long Truss w/Arch NNE of plymouth at Blair Village - Sounds like two different bridges to me)

2. Cilleyville Covered Bridge Andover, NH (Ed. - Town Lattice Truss 1887 WSE of Andover)

3. Cornish-Windsor (460x19) (1866) Cornish, NH - Windsor, VT, Connecticut This is the 4th bridge on this site and is the longest covered bridge in NH (Ed. spanning Connecticutt River, I assume , which runs along the mutual state lines of NH and VT - Right! Restored 1989 Town Lattice Truss. Also the longest covered bridge in the US.)

One might wonder why all the bridges spanning the Connecticut River between NH and VT are designated as NH bridges. It is because the state line is set at the low water mark on the western bank (VT) of the Connecticut River. This is a 1934 United States Supreme Court decision.

4. Drewsville (Prentiss) (Ed. - Don't know what that "Prentiss" means) (36x15) Langdon, Great Brook. The smallest covered bridge in NH. Date of erection has been set anywhere from 1790-1869! A Town lattice type. Langdon, NH (Ed. - tour says 1869 Southern edge of Langdon. Now I know that Prentiss Bridge is how this bridge is known now and it is #19 on the tour. It has an interesting history: It was built by Albert S. Granger and is the third bridge on this site. The date of the first structure is unknown but the second was built Dec., 1791 - which must have been fun in the dead of winter - on land cleared and settled by John Prentiss in 1785. In 1805 the Cheshire Turnpike Co. took over the bridge as part of the turnpike from Canada to Boston. In march of 1874 the town voted to raise $1,000 to replace the old structure with a thirty foot Granger covered bridge. It served the community until it was bypassed in 1954 and now serves foot traffic only. It is also known as the Drewsville Bridge.) Click here for a side view of this neat short bridge while it was being worked on and another here now that it is foot traffic only.

5. Durgin Covered Bridge (110x16) (1869) Sandwich, NH (Ed. - Paddleford Truss Restored 1966 NE of sandwich)

6. Honeymoon (138x16) 1870's Jackson, Ellis. Town lattice with covered walk along one side. Reconditioned in 1939. Jackson, NH (Ed. - another source says Paddleford Truss w/Arch and lists 1876)

1. Keniston (70x16) Andover, Blackwater. Town lattice type with a single span resting on granit foundations. Andover, NH (Ed. - 1882 W of Andover)

2. Mechanic Street (Israel River Bridge) 108x20 (1862), Lancaster, NH. Also Howe truss construction (Ed. - Another source says Paddleford Truss type)

3. Pittsburg-Clarksville (91x15) Pittsburg, over the infant Connecticut, of Burr type design it is the northern-most bridge on the Connecticut River in NH (Ed. - "infant" should mean near the headwaters or beginning of the river.)

4. Saco River (240x19) (1890) Conway, Saco. 2-span Bur-type built by Charles Broughton and son with side-walks on both sides. Conway, NH (Ed. - This bridge across the Saco river was not far From Fryeburg, Maine so I knew the area well before I joined the MC and when I returned to Main later. Another source lists Saco River bridge 1890 and restored in 1988 Paddleford Truss type Old Route #16. The Saco is pretty long and really winds and meanders throughout North Conway, Conway, and Center Conway before going on to Fryeburg, ME, etc. Now, I recall this one is just down river from where the Swift River empties into the Saco. I've driven over this bridge many times and walked over it many also back when I was about 16. I also fished where the two rivers joined quite often when I went back to Maine.)

5. #6 Sawyer's Crossing Bridge (Ed. - Don't know what the #6 means) Swanzey, NH The old covered bridges are fast giving way to modern construction. The covered bridge served as shelter for both man and beast. (Ed. - While this was the information printed on the back of the card, I have been informed by Kevin Dunn that the actual correct name of this bridge is the Cresson Bridge. That also is born out by what I saw on another site showing it under that name but saying it is on Sawyer's Crossing Road south of Keene, NH. It was also stated that it is of Town Lattice Truss type built in 1859 and restored in 1996) PS - Kevin Dunn informed me the #6 refers to the number of the bridge on the Covered Bridges Tour since they were all designated as historical monuments, as well they should have been.

6. Smith Covered bridge Over Saco River White mountains, NH (Ed. - That was all the post card said and I'm not sure just where on the Saco River this was but I tend to think it is not still around either. Now - I think this may have been the bridge that unfortunately was burned down by a pair of teen-age boys as a lark - in the late 1940's or early 1950's as I recall. As of now I haven't found any further info on this bridge. Another source lists what is obviously a different Smith Bridge, #44 on the tour but gone now, being rebuilt and original was 1850 Long Truss with added arches type that was "Arsoned". However it also says it is/was WNW of Plymouth and spanning the Baker River. Also the other Smith Bridge picture looks nothing like the one from the postcard. That picture (7.) is an old black and white and would not copy real well but I decided to slip it in here as an extra just for comparison to the other.)
 

1. Stark Covered Bridge (151x18) Stark, NH (Ed. - Long Truss w/Arch)

2. & 3. Ed. - I don't recall the name of this bridge but I took both of these pictures in 1990. Right after I took the pics they started the restoring process and did a great job. It is no longer used and is just for show. A real pretty bridge that spans the Swift River just up from where it empties into the Saco River in Conway, NH and just up river from The Saco River Bridge. I now recall this is the Swift River Bridge and I have posted a picture taken after the rebuild, below.

4. Swiftwater (174x16) (1849) Bath, Wild Ammonoosuc. Also Burr type design Swiftwater, NH (Ed. - #29 on tour - I was born in Bath, NH but we moved from there when I was only about three. Other sources say Paddleford Truss type, restored in 1989 and again in 1999. By the way, there are two more bridges near Bath, NH - see below)

5. Covered Bridge over the Scenic Pemigewasset River at Woodstock, White Mountains, NH (Ed. - Not sure if they meant Woodstock is the name of this bridge - by the darker print, or if they didn't know the name of it and thus no heavier lettering or name at the beginning.. Only one they did that on. It was in the town of Woodstock)

6. Mystery Bridge This is just my name for this nice example. I have no information on this bridge except it appears to be from an old calendar but was in a frame. I found it in Ma's house but it was with my step-father's family's possessions from before her time in the house. The green color was just the way it was and didn't really appear to be from fading. The picture was 81/2"x12" so I had to reduce it in the larger view.

1. & 2. Hemlock Covered Bridge (1857) Paddleford truss strengthened with laminated wooden arches - Fryeburg, ME, it spans the "old course" of the Saco River - just a small sluggish stream after the Corps Of Engineers changed the main course many decades ago. These are pictures my wife, Rose and I took of each other (aprox. 1995) at this delightful small bridge. I don't know if this one was ever actually restored or just repaired but it is in very good shape and still supports traffic on the dirt road "shortcut" between a couple of state roads. Rose and I used to go here in the evening and fish for hornpout (what they call catfish in New England - but smaller) most of the night. Usually we went about once a week during the summers there. Raccoons would keep us amused if things were slow. They fished too, as well as checking the garbage can maintained there. We actually fished from inside the bridge, out of the windows. Good fish - good times. Hemlock apparently refers to either the trees by that name in that area or possibly what the shingles on the roof were originally made of. That's what my step-father, Norman told Ma. We really loved this little bridge and I also put my canoe in here more than once to go duck hunting.

3. Lyndonville Covered Bridge Lyndonville, VT (Ed. - That is all that was on the card and so far I can't find/confirm any more from other sources but I have no doubt I (someone) will.)

4. Ashuelot Bridge (as seen above) in what used to be Ashuelot Township but is now Winchester, NH This is the 1st bridge on the covered bridge tour as you come into New Hampshire. The posted speed limit for cars on this bridge is no faster than a walk or about 3 to 5 MPH

5. Ashuelot Bridge Side view of the bridge. This bridge has a sidewalk on each side of the car or horse and buggy path.

6. Carlton Bridge In East Swanzey NH, it is No. 7 on the tour. They raised this bridge up higher in the 1990's after one of the floods they have in this area almost swept the bridge away. The road however still floods.

1. Thompson Bridge The No. 3 bridge on the tour. Built in 1832 and reconstructed in 1993. The bridge is located in downtown West Swanzey, NH

2. Thompson Bridge History The dedication stone near the Thompson Bridge shows that it was originally built by Zadoc Taft who coincidentally was Kevin's 5TH Great Uncle.

3. Slate Bridge (Special Entry thanks to Kevin Dunn's research efforts) The Number 4 bridge on the tour of covered bridges in New Hampshire was burned in 1993. Arson was suspected and the bridge made National Newspapers and National Television coverage in that year. It had been located in the small town formerly known as Wesport, now known as West Swanzey, NH. When you click on this picture it will not only take you to a little larger picture but also a copy of the news release about the fire. Please note that the location given in the article for Swanzey is a typo though, as it is in the Southwestern part of NH, not the Eastern part.

4. Bath-Haverhill Bridge #27 on the tour (1829) Repaired in 1973 and again in 1981 Town Lattice with Arches, 2 Span Located in Woodsville Village across the Ammonoosuc River (also known as the Wild Ammonoosuc River). However the maintenance of the bridge is equally shared by the towns of Bath and Haverhill - all of NH.

5. Bath Bridge #28 on the tour (1832)Burr truss with supplemental arches Located in the town of Bath, NH (my birthplace) also across the Ammonoosuc River

6. Blow-me-down Bridge #23 on the tour (1877) repaired 1980 Multiple Kingpost truss Cornish, NH (listen to the location info: SW of Plainfield Village on Mill Road in "Squag City" in Cornish spanning a deep gorge of the Blow-Me-Down Brook) and this supplemental info: "Crossbeam (Tell-Tale) set at 7' 0" has been installed at each approach to block high vehicles." (I'm not sure why, as it is hard to put the finger on but this all just struck me as very reminiscent of New Hampshire/New England)

1. Swift River Bridge #47 on the tour - After Rebuild, closed to traffic but a beautiful spot and good trout fishing area (sometimes). The swift River comes down off Mt. Kancamagus

2. Swift River Bridge Side view, allows you to see how much it looks like the two photos (above) I took just before it was rebuilt. Up river from where the Swift joins the Saco in Conway, NH

3. Saco River Bridge #48 on the tour - Soon as I saw this end-shot with the gray painted face with white trim it all began to fall in place for me.

4. Saco River Bridge Side view taken from the river just below the Swift River Bridge and incidentally the small concrete, steel and asphalt bridge build on the West Side Road (as in west side of the Saco River) that took the place of the old Swift river Bridge for vehicular traffic.

5. Slate Bridge (the third at this site) Again, I thank Kevin Dunn for this picture that he took himself (I believe) of the replacement bridge in West Swanzey, NH. It of course replaces the one that was burned that he also provided the pics and special story on earlier on this page. Kevin said that at this time the sides have not been painted yet but it is still number 4 on the tour.

6. Burrington Bridge On Route 114, still in the town of Lyndon, VT

1. & 2. Center Bridge Spanning the Passumsic River in the first view, moved up through Lyndonville, VT years ago but still spanning the river about 1 1/4 miles away. Now (2nd view) sporting a little office inside of it.

3. & 4. Chamberlin Bridge Entrance to Chamberlin Bridge in Lyndon Corner, VT, and (4) a view of the other end of the bridge.

5. & 6. School House Bridge Entrance to School House Bridge, also in Lyndon Corner, VT. Two seasonal views.

1. & 2. Bradley/Millers Run Bridge This is, as you may have noted, the bridge from the Covered Bridge Home Page on this site. The bridge that started all of this, you might say. Ma grew up right across from the end of it and she and Pop met near the end of it. Ila's husband, Bernie (not to be confused with your host), my mother's nephew, spend his earliest years there also. It was a very special landmark in my family background, especially on my mother's (the Bradley) side.

3. & 4. Humpback Bridge These two pictures are of a (old and later) view depicting a bridge near Covington, VA, over Dunlops Creek, on the Midland Trail. They were provided to me by one of my friends in Traditional Archery who also lives in NC, Kevin Lawler. Kevin grew up near this unusual, one of a kind covered bridge and says he vividly remembers family picnics under the grand old structure in his youth. Thanks for adding enjoyment, Kevin. A couple more covered bridges (no locations) of Virginia, along with other view type postcards may be seen at http://freepages.history.rootsweb.com/~alleghanyhighlands/postcards/postcards.html

5. & 6. Chester Bridge Chester bridge is located in Southern Illinois on Mary's River and was built around 1816 according to friend Dano (Daniel Gren) of tradgang.com and Illinois, who sent me the pictures, Thank you, Dano.

1. Cataract Falls Bridge Cataract Bridge is located in a Indiana State Park near Cloverdale, IN and was built in the late 1800's Cataract Falls happens to be the largest Falls in In. The picture and information was supplied to me by Chad Jones, also of tradgang.com and Il. Thank you Chad.

2.Cataract Falls Bridge This second picture of that bridge in In was taken and sent to me by friend Nick Theodoratos. Along with it he sent a picture of the General Store there. The bridge has been there since1860 and the store was there before that. The store is still run by the same family. Thank you so much, Nick - great pictures.

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