America is home to many beautiful and historic covered bridges. Most of these covered bridges are located on the East Coast, particularly in New England where some of the oldest states in America are located, but some exist in the Midwest as well.
Here are some of the oldest covered bridges in America:
Hyde Hall Bridge (1825-1826):
Located in Cooperstown, New York, Hyde Hall Bridge is considered the oldest covered bridge in New York and in the United States. Built by Cyrenus Clark, Andrew Alden and Lorenzo Bates in 1825, Hyde Hall Bridge is a 53-foot-long, single span covered bridge.
The bridge incorporates the Burr arch design which was patented in 1817 by Theodore Burr of Torringford, Connecticut and is one of three covered bridges in New York State with horizontal siding. The bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on December 17, 1998.
Haverhill-Bath Covered Bridge (1829):
Located on Route 135 in Woodsville, New Hampshire, this bridge is a notable example of early covered bridge construction. It is located on the Ammonoosuc River and it joins the towns of Bath and Woodsville.
Built in 1829, it is considered to be the oldest bridge in New Hampshire and is the first and only bridge to be built on this site.
The bridge is 256-feet-long and a rare example of a Town lattice truss bridge which is a specific bridge design patented by Ithiel Town in 1820. The bridge consists of four spans supported by Burr trusses. The bridge was idled in 1999 and restored in 2004. It is now open to foot traffic only.
Roberts Covered Bridge (1829):
Located in Eaton, Ohio, the Roberts Covered Bridge is one of the oldest covered bridges in Ohio, the oldest of only six double-barreled or dual-wagon-way bridges still remaining in the United States and the second oldest covered bridge in America.
The bridge was built by Orlistus Roberts using local poplar, beech and oak and it rests on abutments of limestone quarried from nearby Rocky Run. All the bolts, nuts and nails were hand forged by the builders.
The bridge was restored in 1962 and underwent major structural repairs in 1974. The bridge was vandalized and damaged by fire in 1986 and relocated to the Seven Mile Creek in Eaton in 1990 so it could be better preserved and protected.
Great Eddy Covered Bridge (1833):
Located in Waitsfield, Vermont, the Great Eddy Covered Bridge, also known as the Waitsfield Covered Bridge, is one of the oldest bridges in Vermont and the longest single-span Burr truss bridge in Vermont.
The bridge is a single-span Burr truss bridge with a metal roof and is located over the Mad River. The bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974 and was restored in 1975.
Silk Covered Bridge (1840):
Located in Bennington, Vermont, the Silk Covered Bridge carries Silk Road over the Walloomsac River. It is an 88-foot-long Town lattice truss bridge possibly built by Benjamin Sears.
The bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. In 2011, the bridge was damaged by Hurricane Irene and was repaired and reopened.
Gold Brook Covered Bridge (1844):
Located in Stowe, Vermont, the Gold Brook Bridge is a single-span Howe truss bridge. The bridge is 48-feet-long, 17-feet-wide and is covered by a gabled metal roof.
The bridge is reportedly haunted by a teenage girl named Emily who hanged herself from the rafters of the bridge in the 1850s when she planned to meet her husband-to-be at the bridge to elope with him but he failed to show. The bridge is now known by locals as Emily’s bridge. The bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.
Perrine’s Bridge (1844):
Located in New Paltz, New York, Perrine’s Bridge is the second oldest bridge in New York. The bridge is a 138-foot-long, 20-foot-wide, single-span Burr-arch style bridge built by Benjamin Wood.
The bridge is named after French Huguenot immigrant James W. Perrine whose ancestor Daniel Perrin “The Huguenot” owned a tavern/hotel near the bridge site.
The bridge is currently owned and maintained by Ulster County and carries pedestrian traffic across the Wallkill River. The bridge was declared a New York Historical Site in 1966 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.
Halpin Covered Bridge (1850):
Located in Middlebury, Vermont, the Halpin Covered Bridge, also known as High Bridge, carries Halpin Road over a gorge with a natural waterfall. It is the highest bridge above a stream bed in Vermont.
This wooden Town lattice bridge is 66.25-feet-long, 11.9-feet wide and stands over 40 feet above the water. Built sometime between 1824 and 1850, the bridge was originally built to serve the Halpin quarry at Marble Ledge on the east side of the river.
The bridge now only provides access to the Halpin family farm. The bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.
Pulp Mill Covered Bridge (1850):
The Pulp Mill Covered Bridge is a dual lane covered bridge in Vermont. The exact date the bridge was built is unknown but it is estimated have been constructed sometime between the 1820s and 1850.
The bridge is a 199-feet-long, 22-feet-wide wooden Burr arch bridge with three spans. It is the last dual-lane “double-barreled” covered wood bridge to carry a public highway in Vermont and one of two such bridges in the state. The bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.
Spade Farm Bridge (1852):
Located in Ferrisburg, Vermont, the Spade Farm Bridge, also known as the Old Hollow Covered Bridge, crosses a storm draining ditch near Route 7. Despite the sign on the bridge that says it was built in 1824, some experts believe it was most likely built about 1852.
The bridge is a 85-foot-long, 17-foot-wide Town lattice truss bridge built by Justin Miller. The bridge was moved from its original location on Old Hollow Road by Sam Spade in 1958 after it was schedule to be demolished and replaced with a modern bridge. The bridge is currently privately owned by the Ferrisburg Artisan Group and is falling into disrepair.
If you want to learn about more historic bridges, check out this article on the oldest bridges in America.
Sources:
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