Whittier Bridge

Last updated
Whittier Bridge
WHITTIER BIRDGE.jpg
The bridge in 1970
USA New Hampshire location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Usa edcp location map.svg
Red pog.svg
LocationOld NH 25 (Nudd St. and Covered Bridge Rd.), Ossipee, New Hampshire
Coordinates 43°49′20″N71°12′43″W / 43.82222°N 71.21194°W / 43.82222; -71.21194
Area0.1 acres (0.040 ha)
Built1870 (1870)
Architectural stylePaddleford Truss
NRHP reference No. 84002558 [1]
Added to NRHPMarch 15, 1984

The Whittier Bridge is a historic wooden covered bridge in Ossipee, New Hampshire. The bridge carried an old alignment of New Hampshire Route 25 (now Nudd Road and Old Covered Bridge Road) over the Bearcamp River. Built in 1870, it is one of New Hampshire's few surviving 19th-century covered bridges, and a rare example of a Paddleford truss. The bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. [1] It was closed to vehicular traffic in 1989, [2] and was removed from its footings for restoration in 2008. As of September 2019, the bridge is resting on Nudd Road adjacent to the crossing point. [3] It was placed back on its abutments in the late fall of 2022.

Contents

Description and history

The Whittier Bridge site is located southwest of the village of West Ossipee, at a long-used crossing point of the Bearcamp River, which flows roughly southeast toward Ossipee Lake from the White Mountains to the northwest. The bridge is a single-span Paddleford truss, with a total length of 137 feet 7 inches (41.94 m) and a clear span of 114 feet (35 m). Its exterior is clad in vertical board siding, which after its most recent renovation only extended part way up the sides. The portal ends project at an angle to a gable. The abutments are dry-laid large granite blocks reinforced by concrete. [4]

Bridges have been documented at this location as early as 1792. The roadway was cut in the 1770s by Captain John Dudley on behalf of Ossipee's proprietors, predating the town's incorporation. Known locally as the Great Bridge, it served as part of the major east-west route (now NH 25) in the region, later joined by an important north-south (now NH 16), with the two meeting in West Ossipee. Bridges standing here were documented by the town as undergoing either major repairs or reconstructions in the 19th century. The bridge preceding this one was washed off the abutments by flooding in 1869, and was rebuilt on commission from Henry Banks, proprietor of the West Ossipee Hotel. It is named for poet John Greenleaf Whittier, who summered at the hotel for several years in the 1870s. [4] Like its predecessors, it has undergone a number of renovations and alterations. Laminated arches were added to strengthen it in the late 19th century, and steel supporting elements were added in the 1940s. It was again given a major restoration in 1983, at which time those elements were removed, and the full-height siding was replaced with the present shorter siding. [4]

The bridge was closed again to traffic in 1989, and in 2008 it was removed from the abutments. [2] Having been placed on the Nudd Road approach, a timeline for the bridge to be restored has been established. A project to move the bridge back into place is moving forward with CPM Constructors out of Freeport, Maine and will likely start spring of 2022. [5] As of December 2022, the bridge was moved to its abutments. It is now open for pedestrian traffic only.

See also

Related Research Articles

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

The Carleton Bridge is a historic wooden covered bridge that carries Carlton Road over the South Branch Ashuelot River in East Swanzey, New Hampshire. The bridge was built in 1869, and is the region's only surviving example of a 19th-century Queenspost truss bridge. The bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975.

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

The Ashuelot Covered Bridge is a historic wooden covered bridge over the Ashuelot River on Bolton Road, just south of its intersection with NH 119 in Ashuelot, an unincorporated village of Winchester, New Hampshire. Built in 1864-65, it is one of the state's few surviving 19th-century covered bridges. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1981.

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

The Sawyers Crossing Covered Bridge, also known as the Cresson Bridge, is a wooden covered bridge carrying Sawyers Crossing Road over the Ashuelot River in west Swanzey, New Hampshire. Built in 1859 to replace an older bridge, it continues to serve as a part of Swanzey's transportation network, and is one of the state's few surviving 19th-century covered bridges. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.

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

The Stark Covered Bridge is a historic wooden covered bridge over the Upper Ammonoosuc River in Stark, New Hampshire. It carries a connecting roadway which joins the Northside Road to New Hampshire Route 110. The bridge was built in either 1857 or 1862, replacing a floating bridge that had been located a short way upstream. It is a two-span Paddleford truss bridge, which is a regional variant of the Long truss. It is 151 feet (46 m) long with a span of 138 feet (42 m), and is 29 feet (8.8 m) wide, carrying an 18-foot (5.5 m) wide roadway and two 6.5-foot (2.0 m) sidewalks. The shore ends of the bridge rest on abutments of granite stone, while the center of the bridge is supported by a reinforced concrete pier, which is flared on the upstream side to deflect debris. The bridge is reinforced with steel beams, giving it a carrying capacity of 15 tons. It is decorated with pendant acorn finials and painted bright white.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cold River Bridge (Langdon, New Hampshire)</span> United States historic place

The Cold River Bridge, also known as McDermott Bridge, is a historic wooden covered bridge spanning the Cold River near Crane Brook Road in Langdon, New Hampshire, USA. Built in 1869, it is one of the state's few surviving 19th-century covered bridges. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. It is closed to vehicular traffic.

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

The Bath Covered Bridge is a historic covered bridge over the Ammonoosuc River off US 302 and NH 10 in Bath, New Hampshire. Built in 1832, it is one of the state's oldest surviving covered bridges. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976, and underwent a major rehabilitation in the 2010s.

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

The Haverhill–Bath Covered Bridge is a historic covered bridge over the Ammonoosuc River joining Bath and Woodsville, New Hampshire. Formerly used to carry New Hampshire Route 135, the bridge was idled in 1999. Restored in 2004, it is now open to foot traffic only. It is believed to be the oldest covered bridge in the state.

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

The Swiftwater Covered Bridge is a historic covered bridge which carries Porter Road over the Wild Ammonoosuc River in Bath, New Hampshire. Built in 1849, it is one of New Hampshire's few surviving 19th-century covered bridges, and a well-preserved example of the Paddleford truss design. The bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hancock–Greenfield Bridge</span> United States historic place

The Hancock–Greenfield Bridge is a historic covered bridge carrying Forest Road over the Contoocook River at the town line between Hancock and Greenfield, New Hampshire. The New Hampshire Department of Transportation covered bridge database refers to it as County Bridge. Built in 1937, it is the first wooden covered bridge in the northeastern United States to use modern engineering techniques. The bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1981.

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

The Bog Bridge, also known as the Cilleyville Bridge, is a historic covered bridge in Andover, New Hampshire. Built in 1887 and located off New Hampshire Route 11 west of Andover center, the Town lattice truss bridge is one of New Hampshire's few surviving 19th-century covered bridges, and is relatively little altered since its construction, having had its roof replaced and an abutment reconstructed. The bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1989.

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

The Keniston Bridge is a historic covered bridge in Andover, New Hampshire, carrying Bridge Street over the Blackwater River. Built in 1882, it is of Town through truss construction, and is one of the few surviving 19th-century covered bridges in the state. It is also one of the only ones whose sides are not fully sheathed, exposing the trusses. The bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1989.

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

The Durgin Bridge is a covered bridge carrying Durgin Bridge Road over the Cold River in eastern Sandwich, New Hampshire. Built in 1869, it is a rare surviving example of a Paddleford truss bridge, and one of the few surviving 19th-century covered bridges in New Hampshire. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wright's Bridge</span> United States historic place

Wright's Bridge is a historic covered bridge in Newport, New Hampshire. Originally built in 1906 to carry the Boston and Maine Railroad across the Sugar River, it now carries the multi-use Sugar River Trail. The bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975.

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

The Dingleton Hill Covered Bridge, also known as the Cornish Mills Bridge, is a historic wooden covered bridge, carrying Root Hill Road over Mill Brook in Cornish Mills, New Hampshire. Built in 1882, it is one of the state's few surviving 19th-century covered bridges. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. It carries one lane of traffic, with a posted weight limit.

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

The Kenyon Bridge, also known as the Blacksmith Shop Bridge, is a historic covered bridge spanning Mill Brook near Town House Road in Cornish, New Hampshire, United States. Built in 1882, it is one of New Hampshire's few surviving 19th-century covered bridges. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.

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

The Meriden Bridge is a historic covered bridge in the Meriden area of Plainfield, New Hampshire. The bridge is a single span which carries Colby Hill Road over Bloods Brook, just west of a junction with Main Street and Willow Brook Road. Built about 1880, it is one of New Hampshire's few surviving 19th-century covered bridges. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.

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

The Prentiss Bridge is a historic covered bridge in Langdon, New Hampshire. Built about 1874, it spans Great Brook just east of the modern alignment of Chester Turnpike, which it carried until it was bypassed by a modern bridge in 1955. At 36 feet (11 m) in length, it is the shortest 19th-century covered bridge built for use on a public roadway in New Hampshire that is still standing. The bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.

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

The Porter-Parsonsfield Bridge is a covered bridge in western Maine, and one of the few 19th-century covered bridges left in the state. The bridge spans the Ossipee River just east of the modern alignment of North Road, which it formerly carried, between the towns of Porter and Parsonsfield. Built in 1876 by the towns, it is a Paddleford truss bridge which has been strengthened with laminated arches. The bridge was closed to traffic in 1960, and is now maintained by the state. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1970.

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

The Centre Covered Bridge, also known as the Sanborn Covered Bridge, is a historic covered bridge, spanning the Passumpsic River next to U.S. Route 5 (US 5) north of the village of Lyndonville, Vermont. Built in 1872, it was moved to its present location and taken out of service in 1960. The bridge was located on Center Street between Lyndonville and Lyndon Center. It is one of three surviving Paddle-Ford truss bridges in Vermont. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lyme–East Thetford Bridge</span> United States historic place

The Lyme–East Thetford Bridge is a historic bridge over the Connecticut River between Lyme, New Hampshire, and East Thetford, Vermont. From the New Hampshire side it carries East Thetford Road, which becomes Vermont Route 113 as it enters Vermont. A Parker truss bridge completed in 1937, it is 471 feet (144 m) long. The bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2020.

References

  1. 1 2 "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
  2. 1 2 "Whittier Bridge". New Hampshire DHR. Retrieved 2014-05-21.
  3. Steer, Daymond (September 18, 2019). "NHDOT returns Whittier Covered Bridge funding". The Conway Daily Sun . Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  4. 1 2 3 "NRHP nomination for Whittier Bridge". National Park Service. Retrieved 2014-05-21.
  5. "Ossipee to spend rescue funds on covered bridge and offset expenses". 28 July 2021.