Upper Falls Covered Bridge

Last updated
Upper Falls Covered Bridge
Upper Falls Covered Bridge 2012-09-24 08-12-35.jpg
USA Vermont location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Usa edcp location map.svg
Red pog.svg
LocationUpper Falls Rd., S of VT 131 across the Black River, Weathersfield, Vermont
Coordinates 43°23′55″N72°31′21″W / 43.39861°N 72.52250°W / 43.39861; -72.52250 Coordinates: 43°23′55″N72°31′21″W / 43.39861°N 72.52250°W / 43.39861; -72.52250
Area1 acre (0.40 ha)
Built1870 (1870)
Architectural styleTown lattice truss
NRHP reference No. 73000215 [1]
Added to NRHPAugust 28, 1973

The Upper Falls Covered Bridge, also known as the Downers Covered Bridge, spans the Black River, carrying Upper Falls Road just south of Vermont Route 131 in western Weathersfield, Vermont. The Town lattice truss bridge was built in 1840 and rebuilt in 2008. Its gable ends are distinctive for their Greek Revival styling. The bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. [1]

Contents

Description and history

The Upper Falls Covered Bridge is located in a rural area of western Weathersfield, south of Vermont 131 on Upper Falls Road. It is a single-span Town lattice truss structure, set on one modern concrete abutment, and another of dry laid stone that has been faced in concrete. It is 120 feet (37 m) long with a gabled overhang of 4 feet (1.2 m) at each end, and is 18.5 feet (5.6 m) wide with a roadway width of 15 feet (4.6 m) (one lane). The sides of the bridge are clad in vertical board siding. Square window holes are cut into each side of the exterior. The bridge is covered by a metal roof. The gable ends of the portals are finished in horizontally laid boards, with partial gable returns and a triangular line of moulding, a nod to Greek Revival architecture popular at the time of its construction. [2]

The bridge was built in 1840 by James Tasker of Claremont, New Hampshire. It is distinctive among Vermont's many surviving covered bridges for the Greek Revival elements of its gables, and for the remarkably good condition of the surviving stone abutment, which has precisely laid stonework. At the time of its National Register listing in 1973 it was not in very good condition; it underwent a complete reconstruction in 2008.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brown Covered Bridge</span> United States historic place

The Brown Covered Bridge is a wooden covered bridge in Shrewsbury, Vermont. Located in the northwestern part of the town, it carries Upper Cold River Road over the Cold River. It was closed to vehicular traffic in 2011 due to damage from Hurricane Irene and reopened as a National Historic Site on July 5, 2016. Built in 1880 by noted Vermont bridgewright Nichols M. Powers, it was designated a National Historic Landmark in 2014, cited as one of the finest and least-altered examples of a Town lattice truss covered bridge in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Worrall Covered Bridge</span> United States historic place

The Worrall Covered Bridge, also known as the Woralls Bridge is a wooden covered bridge carrying Williams Road across the Williams River in Rockingham, Vermont, United States. Built about 1870, it is the only surviving 19th-century covered bridge in the town, after the Hall Covered Bridge collapsed in 1980 and was replaced in 1982, and the Bartonsville Covered Bridge was washed away by Hurricane Irene in 2011 and replaced in 2012-2013. The bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Silk Covered Bridge</span> United States historic place

The Silk Covered Bridge is a covered bridge, carrying Silk Road across the Walloomsac River between downtown Bennington, Vermont and the village of North Bennington, United States. A Town lattice truss bridge, it was built in 1840, and is one of three covered bridges across the river in fairly close proximity. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paper Mill Village Bridge</span> Bridge in Town of Bennington, Vermont

The Paper Mill Village Bridge, also called the Paper Mill Bridge or Bennington Falls Covered Bridge, is a wooden covered bridge that carries Murphy Road across the Walloomsac River northwest of Bennington, Vermont. Built in 1889, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Halpin Covered Bridge</span> Bridge in Middlebury, Vermont

The Halpin Covered Bridge, also called the High Covered Bridge, is a wooden covered bridge carrying Halpin Bridge Road across the Muddy Branch of the New Haven River in Middlebury, Vermont. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Northfield Falls Covered Bridge</span> Bridge in Northfield, Vermont

The Northfield Falls Covered Bridge, also called the Station Covered Bridge, is a wooden covered bridge that carries Cox Brook Road across the Dog River in Northfield, Vermont. Built in 1872, this Town lattice truss bridge is one of five surviving covered bridges in the town, and one of two that are visible from each other. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hutchins Covered Bridge</span> Bridge in Montgomery, Vermont

The Hutchins Covered Bridge is a wooden covered bridge that crosses the South Branch of the Trout River in Montgomery, Vermont on Hutchins Bridge Road. It was built in 1883 by Sheldon & Savannah Jewett, brothers who are credited with building most of the area's covered bridges. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Longley Covered Bridge</span> Bridge in Montgomery, Vermont

The Longley Covered Bridge, also known as the Harnois Covered Bridge, is a wooden covered bridge that crosses the Trout River in Montgomery, Vermont on Longley Bridge Road. Built in 1863, this Town lattice truss bridge is the oldest of a group of area bridges built by brothers Sheldon & Savannah Jewett. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. The bridge is closed to traffic, and has been bypassed by an adjacent temporary bridge.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hammond Covered Bridge</span> United States historic place

The Hammond Covered Bridge is a Town lattice covered bridge spanning Otter Creek in Pittsford, Vermont. The bridge was built in 1842 by Asa Norse, and originally carried Kendall Hill Road, which now passes just to its south. The bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places on January 21, 1974.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Waterloo Covered Bridge</span> United States historic place

The Waterloo Covered Bridge carries Newmarket Road over the Warner River near the Waterloo Falls in Warner, New Hampshire. The Town lattice truss bridge was built in 1859-60, replacing an earlier span at the same location, and is one of New Hampshire's few surviving 19th-century covered bridges. The bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976, and included in the Waterloo Historic District in 2003.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fisher Covered Railroad Bridge</span> United States historic place

The Fisher Covered Railroad Bridge is a covered bridge in Wolcott, Vermont. Built in 1908, it originally carried the St. Johnsbury and Lamoille County Railroad line over the Lamoille River. Now closed, it was the last covered bridge in Vermont to carry railroad traffic, and is a rare surviving example in the state of a double Town lattice truss. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Green River Covered Bridge</span> United States historic place

The Green River Covered Bridge is a covered bridge in western Guilford, Vermont. Built in the 1870s by Marcus Worden, it is a Town lattice truss bridge, carrying Green River Road over the eponymous river in a small rural village of the same name. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kidder Covered Bridge</span> United States historic place

The Kidder Covered Bridge carries Kidder Hill Road across the South Branch Saxtons River, just south of the village center of Grafton, Vermont. The bridge was built about 1870, and is Grafton's last surviving 19th-century covered bridge. It is the shortest historic covered bridge in Windham County, and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scott Covered Bridge (Townshend, Vermont)</span> United States historic place

Scott Covered Bridge is a covered bridge spanning the West River in Townshend, Vermont. Built in 1870, it is at 277 feet (84 m) one of the longest covered bridges in the state, exhibiting three different forms of support: a Town lattice truss, kingpost trusses, and laminated arches. The bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. It is closed to all traffic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Depot Covered Bridge</span> United States historic place

The Depot Covered Bridge is a historic Town lattice truss bridge, carrying Depot Hill Road over Otter Creek in Pittsford, Vermont. The bridge was built about 1840, and is one of Vermont's older covered bridges. It underwent restoration in the 1980s, and was subsequently reinforced with steel stringers. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sanderson Covered Bridge</span> United States historic place

The Sanderson Covered Bridge is a historic covered bridge, which carries Pearl Street over Otter Creek in Brandon, Vermont. Built about 1840, it is one of Vermont's oldest covered bridges, and is the only remaining 19th century bridge in Brandon. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Martin's Mill Covered Bridge (Hartland, Vermont)</span> United States historic place

The Martin's Mill Covered Bridge is a wooden covered bridge spanning Lull's Brook on Martinsville Road in Hartland, Vermont. Built about 1880, it is one of two surviving 19th-century covered bridges in the town. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Willard Covered Bridge</span> United States historic place

The Willard Covered Bridge is a historic covered bridge carrying Mill Street across the Ottauquechee River in Hartland, Vermont. It is the eastern of two covered bridges on the road, which are connected via a small island in the river; the western bridge was built in 2001. This bridge, built about 1870, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hectorville Covered Bridge</span> United States historic place

The Hectorville Covered Bridge is a historic covered bridge in Montgomery, Vermont. Originally located on Gibou Road off Vermont Route 118 in central Montgomery, the bridge is currently (2016) in storage. It was built by Sheldon & Savannah Jewett, who are credited with building all of Montgomery's surviving 19th century covered bridges. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">River Road Covered Bridge</span> United States historic place

The River Road Covered Bridge was a historic covered bridge, carrying Veilleux Road across the Missisquoi River in Troy, Vermont. Built in 1910, the Town lattice truss was the only surviving covered bridge in Troy from the historic period of covered bridge construction when it burned on February 6, 2021. It also exhibited some distinctive variations in construction from more typical Town lattices. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.

References

  1. 1 2 "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. Hugh Henry (1973). "NRHP nomination for Upper Falls Covered Bridge". National Park Service . Retrieved 2016-09-06. with photos from 1973