List of covered bridges in New Hampshire

Last updated

This is a list of New Hampshire covered bridges, old, new, and restored. There are 58 historic wooden covered bridges currently standing and assigned official numbers by the U.S. state of New Hampshire. [1] There are additional covered bridges extant in the state, some of which are on private property and not accessible to the public. The newest covered bridge known to have been constructed in the state is Chester's Wason Bridge, built in 2011 by the Timber Framers Guild. [2]

Contents

Standing covered bridges

A map of numbered covered bridges in New Hampshire, 1967 Nh covered bridge map display 1967.jpg
A map of numbered covered bridges in New Hampshire, 1967
Stark Covered Bridge, built in 1857, over the Upper Ammonoosuc River UpperAmmonoosuc.jpg
Stark Covered Bridge, built in 1857, over the Upper Ammonoosuc River
Contoocook Railroad Bridge is the oldest covered railroad bridge of its kind in the United States Contoocook Covered Railroad Bridge.JPG
Contoocook Railroad Bridge is the oldest covered railroad bridge of its kind in the United States
Conway is home to the Saco River Bridge, built in 1890 Saco River Bridge (Conway, New Hampshire).jpg
Conway is home to the Saco River Bridge, built in 1890
Sign for NH Covered Bridge No. 2 (Coombs Covered Bridge) along NH Route 10 New Hampshire Covered Bridge No. 2 sign.jpg
Sign for NH Covered Bridge No. 2 (Coombs Covered Bridge) along NH Route 10

Some bridges go by two or more names; this list uses the name posted on the bridge. The list is sortable—click on any column title to sort by Location, Waterbody, Year built, etc.

NameLocationWaterbodyYear builtNH # [lower-alpha 1] Notes
Allen Hollis Bridge [3] Woodstock Lost River 1981Foot traffic only.
Ashuelot Bridge Ashuelot Ashuelot River 18641Also called Village Bridge or Village Station Bridge.
Bacon Bridge [4] Pittsburg Connecticut River 187634State calls it the Pittsburg–Clarksville Covered Bridge. Beside a rushing rapids. Leads to a meadow. Sign: "Bypass / Historic." Foot traffic only.
Bartlett Bridge [5] Bartlett Saco River 185150Contains the Covered Bridge Gift Shoppe. Foot traffic only.
Bath Bridge Bath Ammonoosuc River 183228Car and foot traffic.
Bement Bridge Bradford West Branch Warner River 185414Car traffic only.
Blacksmith Shop Bridge [6] Cornish Mill Brook188121Foot traffic only.
Blair Bridge Campton Pemigewasset River 186941Overhead sign: "Five dollars fine for riding or driving on this bridge faster than a walk." Car traffic only.
Blow-Me-Down Bridge Cornish Blow-me-down Brook 187723Car traffic only.
Bog Bridge Andover Pleasant Brook188716Also called Cilleyville Bridge. Car traffic only.
Brundage Bridge [7] Grafton Mill Brook1957Rural. Foot traffic only.
Bump Bridge [8] Campton Beebe River 197243Car traffic only.
Carlton Bridge Swanzey South Branch Ashuelot River 18697Car traffic only.
Chester Bridge [9] Chester Wason Brook2011Also called Wason Pond Covered Bridge. Built by the Timber Framers Guild and volunteers. Foot traffic only.
Chocorua Ski and Beach Bridge [10] Tamworth Chocorua River 1992Car traffic only.
Clark's Bridge [11] North Woodstock Pemigewasset River 190464Part of the Clark's Bears compound. Railroad traffic only. Moved from Vermont, where it originally spanned the Winooski River, to its current location circa 1965.

Clark's Bridge is the only known covered railroad bridge still in active use. [12]

Cold River Bridge Langdon Cold River 186918Also called McDermott Bridge. Foot traffic only.
Columbia Bridge Columbia Connecticut River 191133 [lower-alpha 2] Car traffic only.
Contoocook Railroad Bridge Contoocook Contoocook River 1849–5010Also called Hopkinton Railroad Covered Bridge. The state lists it simply as "Railroad Bridge". Oldest covered railroad bridge in the U.S.
Coombs Bridge Winchester Ashuelot River 18432Car traffic only.
Corbin Bridge Newport North Branch Sugar River 199417Car traffic only.
Cornish–Windsor Bridge Cornish, New Hampshire and Windsor, Vermont Connecticut River 186620Longest wooden covered bridge in the U.S., 449 feet (137 m), until surpassed in 2008. Car traffic only.
Dalton Bridge Warner Warner River 185312Car traffic only.
Dingleton Hill Bridge Cornish Mill Brook188222Car traffic only.
Durgin Bridge Sandwich Cold River 186945Sign is on Route 113. Car traffic only.
Edgell Bridge [13] Lyme Clay Brook188525Car traffic only.
Flume Bridge [14] Lincoln Pemigewasset River 188639Car traffic only.
Friendship Bridge Wentworth Baker River 1962; 201671Constructed 1962 as Goffe's Mill Covered Bridge in Bedford. [15] Reconstructed in Wentworth in 2016. Named the Friendship Bridge by the Friends of Wentworth Parks and Recreation non-profit, owners of the bridge. Foot traffic only.
Groveton Bridge [16] Groveton Upper Ammonoosuc River 185232No name plate. Has picnic tables inside. Sign: "Welcome to North Country ATV Trail System." Foot and ATV traffic only.
Hancock–Greenfield Bridge Hancock and Greenfield Contoocook River 19378Also called County Bridge. Car traffic only.
Happy Corner Bridge [17] Pittsburg Perry Stream 1850s?35Decorated with Christmas lights. Posted "Fishermen: Fly Fishing Only" with rules. Car and foot traffic.
Haverhill–Bath Bridge Bath Ammonoosuc River 182927The state lists it as the Bath–Haverhill Bridge. Spans a rushing spillway. Foot traffic only.
Henniker / New England College Henniker Contoocook River 197263At New England College. Foot traffic only.
Jackson Bridge Jackson Ellis River 187651Car and foot traffic.
HoodKroft Bridge [18] Derry Beaver Brook 1980sPart of the HoodKroft Country Club. Golf cart and foot traffic only.
Jack O Lantern Bridge [19] Woodstock Pond1987Part of the Jack O Lantern Resort and Golf Course.
Keniston Bridge Andover Blackwater River 188215Car traffic only.
Little Red Bridge [20] Candia 1961Part of Candia Woods Golf Links. Golf cart and foot traffic only.
Mechanic Street Bridge [21] Lancaster Israel River 186231No name plate. Also called Israels River Bridge. Sign: "Built Lancaster, N.H. 1862". Rebuilt 2006. Car traffic only.
Melendy Pond Bridge [22] Hudson First Brook1982Foot traffic only.
Meriden Bridge Plainfield Bloods Brook188024Also called Mill Bridge. Car traffic only.
Mount Orne Bridge Lancaster Connecticut River 191130No name plate; sign "1911 1983". Connects Lancaster, New Hampshire, and Lunenberg, Vermont. Car traffic only.
Nepalese Bridge [23] Randolph Mossy Glen Waterfalls1968Foot traffic only.
Nissitissit Foot Bridge [24] Brookline Nissitissit River 1978Foot traffic only.
Packard Hill Bridge [25] Lebanon Mascoma River 199167Car and foot traffic.
Pier Bridge Newport Sugar River 190757Also called Chandler Station Bridge. Foot traffic only.
Prentiss Bridge Langdon Great Brook 187419Shortest covered bridge in New Hampshire, 36 feet (11 m). Foot traffic only.
River Road Bridge [26] Pittsburg Perry Stream 185836Shifted off its roadbed to one side. Needs repair. Foot traffic only.
Riverwalk Bridge [27] Littleton Ammonoosuc River 2004Long footbridge connecting downtown and a park with weekly Farmer's Market. Plaque: "Built by the town of Littleton, N.H." Foot traffic only.
Rowell Bridge West Hopkinton Contoocook River 18539Car traffic only.
Royal Crest Bridge [28] Nashua Spit Brook1970Part of Royal Crest Estates Apartments. Foot traffic only.
Saco River Bridge [29] Conway Saco River 189048Car and foot traffic.
Sawyers Crossing Bridge Swanzey Ashuelot River 18596Replaced an earlier bridge built in 1771. Car traffic only.
Sentinel Pine Bridge [30] Lincoln Pemigewasset River 193938In Franconia Notch State Park at Flume Gorge. Foot traffic only.
Slate Bridge Swanzey Ashuelot River 20014Destroyed by fire in 1993, rebuilt in 2001.
Smith Millennium Bridge [31] Plymouth Baker River 200144Third bridge built on the site. "The strongest covered bridge in the world." Car and foot traffic.
Squam River Bridge [32] Ashland Squam River 199065Car and foot traffic.
Stowell Road Bridge [33] Merrimack Baboosic Brook 199066Car traffic only.
Stark Bridge Stark Upper Ammonoosuc River 1857 or 186237Beautiful bridge decorated with pendant acorn finials and painted bright white. No name plate. In the center of town. Car and foot traffic.
Sulphite Railroad Bridge Franklin Winnipesaukee River 189662Only remaining deck-covered railroad bridge in the U.S. Also called the "Upside Down Bridge" because the railroad ran over the top, now discontinued. Damaged by arson in 1980. No access.
Swift River Bridge Conway Swift River 186947Foot traffic only.
Swiftwater Bridge Bath Wild Ammonoosuc River 184929Car traffic only.
Tannery Hill Bridge [34] Gilford Gunstock River 199568Plaque: "Constructed by the Gilford Rotary Club. Tim Andrews - Bridgebuilder." Foot traffic only.
Teixeira Park Bridge Peterborough Nubanusit Brook 1965In Teixeira Park.
Turkey Jim's Bridge [35] Campton West Branch Brook195842Restored in 1958, washed out in 1964, restored in 2013. Inside the Branch Brook Campground. Foot traffic only.
Waterloo Bridge Warner Warner River 184013Car traffic only.
Wentworth Golf Club [36] Jackson Ellis River 1991Part of the Wentworth Golf Club course. Golf cart and foot traffic only.
West Swanzey Bridge Swanzey Ashuelot River 18325Also called Thompson Bridge. Car and foot traffic.
Albany Bridge [37] Albany Swift River 185849Also called Albany Bridge. Built in 1857, destroyed by windstorm in 1858, rebuilt in 1858. Car and foot traffic.
Whittier Bridge Ossipee Bearcamp River 1870s46Closed since 2008, currently located on dry land off of Nudd Road, restoration timeline unclear as of September 2019. [38] Bridge reinstalled over the river in 2022.
Wright's Bridge Newport Sugar River 190658Foot traffic only.
Yankee Barn Bridge [39] Grantham Eastman Pond 1982Part of the Eastman Community Association, not accessible to general public. Foot traffic only.
Stoney Morrell BridgeConwayDitch199970On Kennett High School Campus.

Lost covered bridges

This is a partial list of other covered bridges that once stood in New Hampshire.

Notes

  1. Covered bridge number, as issued by the state; extant bridges are not numbered sequentially. [1]
  2. Columbia Bridge is listed on the state's website as No. 28, which appears to be a typo.

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References

  1. 1 2 "Bridge Name List". New Hampshire Division of Historical Resources . Retrieved July 1, 2020 via NH.gov.
  2. Taormina, Barbara (August 4, 2011). "Volunteers team up to build NH's 55th covered bridge". New Hampshire Union Leader . Archived from the original on November 10, 2017. Retrieved September 28, 2020 via Wayback Machine.
  3. Photo at Bridgehunter web site.
  4. Photos at NH Tour Guide web site.
  5. Photo at Manchester Union Leader's New Hampshire web page.
  6. Photo at Manchester Union Leader's New Hampshire web page.
  7. Photo at Bridgehunter web page.
  8. Photo at NH Tour Guide web site.
  9. Photo at Bridgehunter.
  10. Photos at Dale Travis' "Round Barns & Covered Bridges" web page.
  11. Photo at New Hampshire Official Government page.
  12. Chandler, Kim Varney (2023). Covered bridges of New Hampshire. Portsmouth: Peter E. Randall Publisher. ISBN   978-1-942155-52-2.
  13. Photo at New Hampshire's Official Government page.
  14. Photo at James Walsh's Photography page.
  15. "How the Goffe's Mill Bridge was saved from destruction: Dubois & King, Stan Graton team up to move structure from Bedford to Wentworth". NH Business Review. April 17, 2015. Retrieved November 6, 2017.
  16. Photo at New Hampshire's Official Government web site.
  17. Photos at Dale Travis' "Round Barns & Covered Bridges" web page.
  18. Photo at HoodKroft Country Club web site.
  19. Photo on the Jack O Lantern History web page.
  20. Photo at NH Golfer web site.
  21. Photo and description at Official NH Covered Bridges page.
  22. Photo at "New Hampshire Covered Bridges List" web page.
  23. Photo of Mossy Glen at New England Waterfalls web page.
  24. Photo and article at Manchester Union Leader's New Hampshire web page.
  25. Photo and description at Official NH Covered Bridges page.
  26. Photo at "New Hampshire Covered Bridges List" web page.
  27. Photo at Upstate NH web site
  28. Photo at Royal Crest Estates Apartments web page.
  29. Photo at New Hampshire State Government web page.
  30. Photo at NH State Parks web page.
  31. Photo at the Manchester Union Leader's New Hampshire web page.
  32. Photo at NH.Life web page.
  33. Photo at Only in Your State web page.
  34. Photo at Bridgehunter web site.
  35. Photo at NH Tour Guide.
  36. Photo on Wentworth Golf Club web page.
  37. Photos at NH Tour Guide web site.
  38. Steer, Daymond (September 18, 2019). "NHDOT returns Whittier Covered Bridge funding". The Conway Daily Sun . Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  39. Photo at Doug Hill Photo
  40. 1 2 "Androscoggin River Bridge". Berlin, New Hampshire History. November 8, 2018. Archived from the original on 2022-02-26. Retrieved July 1, 2020 via Facebook. The old covered bridge crossing the Androscoggin River at Errol, 1939. It was built in 1860, and went out of service in 1941. This was one of two covered bridges in Errol, the other crossing Clear Stream. Both were replaced with steel bridges during a period of modernization.
  41. "Monument now marks site of covered bridge". Nashua Telegraph . September 9, 2013. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  42. "Merrimack Covered Bridge Is Burned". Nashua Telegraph . June 7, 1967. p. 1. Retrieved July 1, 2020 via newspapers.com.
  43. "Old Runnells Bridge Coming Down; No Effort to Save It". Nashua Telegraph . January 9, 1950. p. 1. Retrieved July 1, 2020 via newspapers.com.
  44. "Turkey Hill Covered Bridge Site". merrimacknh.gov. Town of Merrimack. Retrieved July 1, 2020.

Further reading