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The public television documentary Spanning Time: America’s Covered Bridges will make its east coast debut on the afternoon of Saturday, May 14, at 2:00 with a free public screening at the Vermont Covered Bridge Museum in the Bennington Center for Natural and Cultural Arts, Bennington, Vermont. The Center for the Arts is located on West Road at Gypsy Lane off of Route 9 just west of the Bennington Monument. The afternoon’s events will include a welcome by museum founder and chair of trustees Bruce Laumeister, a large-screen showing of the 57-minute documentary, remarks on restoration theory by David Wright, President of the National Society for the Preservation of Covered Bridges and an opportunity to question the documentary’s producers, Eugene Brancolini and Susanne Schwibs. The formal program will be followed by an informal reception with refreshments. Produced by public television station WTIU, Bloomington, Indiana, with funding from the Federal Highway Administration, Spanning Time: America’s Covered Bridges explores the affection Americans have for their wooden covered bridges. Actor/songwriter Tim Grimm guides us through this instructional, entertaining, and sometimes whimsical look at covered bridges throughout the United States - their cultural significance, history, construction, preservation, and tourist activities surrounding them. Commentary by eminent New England bridge wrights Arnold Graton and Jan Lewandoski provide the builder’s perspective, while preservationists, engineers, public officials, tourists and all manner of covered bridge enthusiasts share their point of view. The program features covered bridges and scenic footage from Indiana, Ohio, Oregon,New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania and Vermont. Spanning Time: America’s Covered Bridges will be distributed nationally this spring by American Public Television. Over 95 public television stations throughout the country have indicated that they will be airing the program. Return to Top |
Joe acknowledged that it was five years ago, in September of 2000, that the Vermont Covered Bridge Society held their first meeting in Lyndon on the Sanborn Covered Bridge. Joe also acknowledged Jim Fearon for his insight into the preservation of covered bridges and for the efforts he made as a bridge-watch chairman in the Lyndon area and the declaration of the area as the "Covered Bridge Capital of the Northeast". Jim passed away in 2003. At the annual Directors meeting in 2004 it was voted that the Society establish a fund into which monies can be deposited to grow for the purpose of making contributions to groups actively preserving their covered bridge. This year that fund was given the name of "The Jim Fearon Save-a-Bridge Fund". To start the Fund the oil painting "Cambridge Junction Covered Bridge" by artist Eric Tobin has been donated, the sale monies to go to the preservation of our covered bridges. The artist has authorized the sale of Gicleé prints of this painting to also go toward the Fund. These prints are available through the VCBS web page, the newsletter, and at Society meetings. Treasurer's Report: The Treasurer's report submitted by Neil Daniels declares that the balance sheet shows $6,212.26 at December 31, 2004. Income statement is $4,171.46 less expenses of $2,945.45. The current year budget expense is $2,791.00. The Save-a-Bridge Fund for the years 2003 and 2004 is $2,276.89 from donations, memorabilia sales, calendar sales, and patch sales. This amount is now part of the bank balance. Neil also reports that the VCBS has been reaffirmed with the IRS as a publicly supported organization vs. a private foundation. We have tax exempt status under section 501 C3.
Minutes: The minutes of the fifth annual fall meeting of the VCBS at Marshfield, Vermont were read by Secretary Irene Barna. Expo 2005: The upcoming Vermont History Expo scheduled for June 25th and 26th was mentioned and help staffing the VCBS booth in the Floral Hall was requested. John Weaver, Will Thompson, and Joe Nelson signed at the meeting to staff the booth. More volunteers were encouraged. Other Reports: John Weaver, Bridge-Watch Chair, reports that there are new copies of the Bridge-Watch Handbook available. On the to-do list for Bridge-Watchers, it is hoped that two site visits are made to each bridge in their area. Things going on: Monies from the Jeffords Fund have allowed work on 15 bridges with work such as the application of fire retardant materials and the rehabilitation of guardrails. John reports that the stabilization of the Hammond Bridge has just gotten advertised this first week in May! The bridge survived the winter as, because of the state of deterioration, there was fear that it could collapse under snowload. Terry Shaw, Legislation Committee Chair elaborated on the VANPO Non Profit Visibility Day at the Vermont State House he attended with Joe Nelson. Two legislators with whom they spoke elaborated on the lack of money forthcoming from both Washington as well as Montpelier to help support nonprofit activities. Joe and Terry attended a caucus of the Vermont Arts Council where they hope to increase the cap of money available to support arts. The VCBS inclusion in the caucus was a result of our position as a group that helps define the Vermont Quality of Life. Any activity or organization which assists in Historic Preservation of our state treasures is considered to be a part of the promotion of visual and performing arts. The VCBS may use the Vermont Arts Council as a resource to help educate the general population of the Covered Bridge Society mission.
Bridge Watch Areas reporting: Ed Rhodes--Stowe Bridge-watch reports that the spring check-up of their bridges finds that winter was kind to the bridges in the Stowe area. John Dostal–Bennington Bridge-watch; John is still diligent in his persistence with the Town of Bennington officials to have fire retardant materials applied to the Bennington bridges. He has been pursuing this issue with them for three years. John reports that The Covered Bridge Museum, adjacent to the Arts Center, is a significant help in supporting the Bennington Center for the Arts. "Visitors to the Museum, coming from states such as Pennsylvania, Indiana, Kentucky, Texas, you name it, pass along information that they come along with and sometimes leave behind memorabilia". One such piece of memorabilia was an article appearing in an issue of The Saturday Evening Post of 1953. In this article, "Bridges With a Past" written by Neil Clark about Richard Sanders Allen and his investigation of covered bridges, the last paragraph mentions that one of Allen's ambitions, in addition to writing a proper history of covered bridges, was to have a covered bridge museum. Allen's collection would go a long way to filling the museum which he envisioned would have wall murals of famous covered bridges, shade boxes, dioramas, a model railroad traveling through covered bridges, visual demon-strations of the various trusses, and a library housing in it everything ever written about covered bridge. In 1953 Richard Allen was living in Round Lake, New York and the postmaster of Round Lake said that he needed an angel to make this happen: "an unemployed angel". Bruce Laumeister is that benefactor who built that museum in Bennington, Vermont adjacent to the Bennington Center for Natural and Cultural Arts. Also to be shown at the Museum on May 14th is the showing of Spanning Time: America's Covered Bridges, a documentary produced by public television station WTIU in Bloomington, Indiana with funding from the Federal Highway Administration exploring the affection Americans have for their wooden covered bridges. American Public Television will distribute this documentary to over 95 public television stations throughout the country who have indicated they will air the program. The meeting concluded with the drawing of raffle tickets. The drawing netted $36.00 and a new member signed up paying in $10 in dues. The sales table brought in $34.50.
At 12:45 lunch was served by the folks of the Lyndon Grange. Respectfully submitted, Irene Barna, Secretary Return to Top |
![Chamberlin Bridge [45-03-04]](chamberlin 05050731.jpg)
![Greenbanks Hollow Bridge [45-03-01]](greenbanks 05050701.jpg)
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by Richard Sanders Allen* [This article was selected to answer one of the two questions most often asked by the general public (read non-bridgers), i.e. Why are covered bridges covered, and, where was the first, or oldest American covered bridge built? Author R.S. Allen answers the second question in this article.] The great controversy on the location of the FIRST covered bridge built in America still rages, but we can throw new light on some of the bridges that have been cited as contenders. Personally, we believe that the "Permanent Bridge" over the Schuylkill River at Philadelphia, Pa., was the first known covered bridge built in America. This bridge, built under the direction of Timothy Palmer of Newburyport, Mass. was several years in building and was opened to traffic on January 1, 1805. Because of the existence of an engraving showing the "Permanent Bridge" without covering, it was long thought that the structure was not originally covered. But later research showed that in 1804 Palmer's trusses were weather boarded and roofed by an individual recorded in history as "Owen Biddle" (a good Philadelphia name!). The idea for the covering is said to have been originated by Judge Richard Peters of Philadelphia, and Timothy Palmer is quoted as favoring the covering in connection with this bridge. In Charles Wilson Peale's "Essay on Building Wooden Bridges", published in 1797, the author states that: "It has been advised to make roofs to cover bridges, and some are so constructed in America . . ." To date, research has failed to disclose where any covered bridges stood in America in 1797. In the "Columbian Magazine" of January, 1787, (a copy of which is in the possession of collector George B. Pease of North Sandwich, N.H.), appears a copper plate engraving of a bridge "suggested" for the site across the Schuylkill at Philadelphia, occupied 18 years later by Palmer's "Permanent Bridge". Who drew this plate or devised this bridge is not known, but it is quite certain that it was never built. However, this place and accompanying article are the earliest known reference to covered bridges in America. First was a scholarly article by Milton M. Cranston of Providence, R.I. concerning the Old Washington Bridge over the Seekonk River at Providence. Mr. Cranston tells of the original bridge being built in 1793, by John Brown and associates. This was destroyed in a great storm in 1807. Replaced, it was again washed away by the memorable "Great Gale" of 1815. Not until 1850 does a direct quote, from the "Manufacturers and Farmers Journal", describe this third bridge (built after 1815) as a "long wooden bridge and three-quarters of its length covered by a house". We have nothing to prove that the first bridge was in reality a covered bridge. The other "nomination" by S. E. Reed of Bradford, Ill. quotes a letter from the librarian of the Lancaster County Historical Society of Lancaster, Pa. which tells of the Stoneman Bridge over Little Conestoga Creek. The letter quotes from Page 868 of Ellis & Evans "History of Lancaster County" (1883) . . . "Christian Stoneman was one of the Mennonite pioneers who came to America in 1729. One Hans Brubaker sold his mill to Mr. Stoneman, the deal including a l50-acre farm, and said Stoneman erected a covered bridge for the convenience of customers who carried their grist to his mill. This covered bridge was completed in 1730." Apparently the librarian was a bit over-zealous for what page 868 actually says is: "For the convenience of travelers and customers who carried their grist to his mill, Mr. Stoneman erected a bridge over the creek at his mill, which was completed in 1730." No mention of a covered bridge. Harder to refute is a letter quoted in Rev. Edward T. Fairbanks’ "The Town of St. Johnsbury, Vermont", published in 1914, and loaned to us by J.M. Puffer of Foxboro, Mass. In the summer of 1787, Jonathan Arnold, founder of the Town of Saint Johnsbury, was engaged in clearing 7 acres of virgin forest. He wrote to his father as follows: ". . . When I had chopped as much as I judged prudent, I employed my hands in making roads and bridges and in surveying townships. I have cut out 16 miles of roads, dug and bridged where necessary; one bridge I built 12 feet high and covered 80 feet long . . ." At first glance it would seem that here was a direct mention of a very early covered bridge. But consider the times - 1787 a clearing in the wilderness, six men working to clear all they could and get a log house or two up before winter. Would they take the time to build a covered bridge? It seems very unlikely. "12 feet high and covered (no comma) 80 feet long." It is our conjecture that what Jonathan Arnold meant in his father's letter was that one bridge which he had built was 12 feet above the water, and covered a distance of 80 feet. That's all we have. The bridges that Charles Wilson Peale knew of in 1797 are still shrouded in the mists of mystery. Until one of them emerges, clear-cut, with a quotation from a reliable publication of the time, we will call Timothy Palmer's "Permanent Bridge" at Philadelphia the First Covered Bridge in America. - RSA [*Taken from the Summer, 1953 Covered Bridge Topics newsletter, with the permission of the NSPCB. Richard Sanders Allen was founding editor of TOPICS and later served as Editorial Consultant. Mr. Allen, dean of covered bridge writers, retired to Idaho where he currently resides - JCN] Return to Top |
The repaired bridge looks just like the old Buskirk Bridge and a traditional floor was put in instead of the laminated floor. I was sure happy to see that. I will let you know when I find out more information. Dick Wilson
Most of the book was written by Gerald Arbour, former President of Quebec's Covered Bridge Society (SQPC), one chapter written by Jean Lefrançois, a DOT officer. This book is a Quebec's Department of Transportation project. Edited by the Government printer. How to order : Bookstore : Renaud-Bray, in Montreal. English spoken. Toll free number : 1-888-746-2283 ext.227. Payment : credit cards only. Delivery ; ± 15 days. Price : $34.95can. No taxes. Shipping : $7 can. + $2 for each additional book, no matter the weight. ISBN : 2-551-19636-1. This number refers to the exact title of the book. You'll avoid many questions by using this number. Return to Top |
 A friend has shared his photo tour of Switzerland with us for posting on www.vermontbridges.com. Because he and his wife took many of their photos of the covered bridges through the window of a railroad coach, the identity of [some of] those bridges is in doubt. We would be grateful to you if you would view the article "Touring Switzerland with the Keatings," and name the bridges for us. Yours in bridging, Joe Nelson |
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by Konrad Meyer-Usteri, Switzerland. Dear Joe: I worked through the Keating's report about their "Touring in Switzerland". It is amazing what they all have visited in only two weeks. Especially I am surprised about the hike deep in the Emmental, where they have also seen many milk-cows for the Emmental cheese and of course could "touch" excellent examples of Swiss covered bridges. Out from the train in the Simmental some CB's are mixed up and it is not easy to put the photo and the right name together. I hope . . . you can open and make use of [my attachment] with some of my photos. On the way up to Zermatt Mrs. Keating got a rare glimpse of the Hohsteg-Bridge, not in the World Guide, through an avalanch-gallery 2 miles north of Zermatt in the direction of Täsch-Visp. In 1985 this C.B. was rebuilt for pedestrians (Wanderweg) with two glued-laminated girders. On the way back to Interlaken the 1st photo shows S- 06-27, the Rüdlebrügg the 2nd photo S-06-28 the humpback called Schützenbrücke, both in the community/location of Reichenbach on the river Kander. Two very nice photos show in Eggiwil the Dörflibrücke across the Roethenbach, with nr. S-06-62 built in 1985 in completely new technique instead of the old bridge of 1885. S-06-17, Eggiwil, Emme, Dieboldswilbrücke, built in 1887, reinforced by two arches in 1979. S-06-14 Signau/Schüpbach, Emme, Bubeneibrücke, 165' long, built in 1988 our 2nd and last example of new wooden bridge in new technique but in the historic form with roof; it did cost us just 55% more than the same bridge in concrete. The next, new wooden bridges have new forms. S-06-16 Eggiwil Emme Horbenbrücke posted for 32t = 70,000lbs, 147' 1834, but reinforced 1990, the inside shows the skillful timber work. The Keatings missed two well preserved bridges, of which I give pictures below, the last one is in very bad shape, and a new wooden bridge will be built, as soon the court "puts the lights on green". S-06-09 Signau Emme Schüpbachbrücke, posted 28t= 62,000lb, 175' built 1839 and several times reinforced, it will keep the full load of today for many years (old nr.10). Not yet in the World Guide: We moved the old Bubeneibrücke built in 1838 2 miles down the Emme and rebuilt it in 1991. It has 1 span, long 132'; still used for pedestrians and bikes. It is called now Brunnmattbrücke on the Emme in the communities Signau and Lauperswil Yours in bridging, Konrad
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![Brunnmattbrücke [no number]. Photo by Konrad
Meyer-Usteri i](brunnmatt kpm-u.jpg)
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Dear Friends of VCBS: I continue to be pleased that you keep me informed of the world of covered bridges, via THE BRIDGER. Especially liked to see a picture and write-up on the Winooski St. Bridge in Waterbury. That was entirely “new-to-me”. The Swiss pix and info was also nice to know about. Thanks much for your informative sharing of c.b. data. Best wishes for all your endeavors, Richard Sanders Allen |
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Do you have any suggestions regarding where I might find such information? Regards, Tim Ullrich
Dear Mr. Ullrich: In 1962 a small book entitled "Rare Old Covered Bridges of Windsor County (Vermont)" was written by Richard Sanders Allen, one of the foremost authorities on covered bridges. On page 21 of the above title is information on the Pompanoosuc Village Bridge, World Guide Number 45-14-67. I quote from this book: "Drowned out . . . the subject of thousands of photographs, was the big bridge on U.S. 5 at Pompanoosuc village. This long span was a valley landmark for nearly a century. Pompanoosuc Bridge was built in 1866 by Bela J. Fletcher of Claremont, New Hampshire, who received $9,913.35 "For work done." Describes as "a practical bridge builder and general carpenter," Fletcher is thought to have had a hand in the building of similar bridges over the Connecticut at Fairlee-Orford and Lewiston-Hanover. He collaborated with James F. Tasker on the Windsor-Cornish Bridge and, being fifteen years older, may well have taught the latter a great deal of trade. Pompanoosuc Bridge used a new system of lattice which Fletcher may have thought up himself, adapting the original Town "mode." The lattices were square timbers instead of usual planks, pinned together with iron bolts held by nuts and washers. Even after U.S. 5 was changed in 1937 to a new crossing further downstream, Pompanoosuc Bridge continued to be used until nearly flooded out. Considered a menace when left only just a bit above the level of waters resulting from the new Wilder Dam, it was razed in 1954." I hope that this helps out a bit. Dick Roy, Historian, National Society for the Preservation of Covered Bridges [This article taken from Vermont Bridges Dot Com - Letters. - Ed.] Return to Top |
![Pompanoosuc Village Bridge [45-14-67]](pompanoo.jpg)
 Spring has arrived so put away those winter coats and boots, grab your cameras and go bridging! Spring is a wonderful time to photograph our bridges. So many of our bridges have so much brush around them that springtime is a great opportunity to see our bridges in their entire splendor. The budding trees help add a little color to the photograph without covering up the bridge itself, so take advantage of this great time of year. Please join me in welcoming the following new members to our Society: Beverly Delaney from Cleveland, OH; Mary Fearon from Lyndonville, VT; Thomas Hildreth from Chester, VT, Richard Howrigan from Jeffersonville, VT and the East Montpelier Historical Society. A warm Vermont welcome to each of you! Email update Don't forget to send me your new or updated email address. Email is an effective way for us to communicate with our members and saves the society money on postage. Please know that your email address will not be shared with anyone and will only be used for official VCBS business. So please, if you don't mind sharing your email address with us, send it along to: bobtrish68@frontiernet.net. Please be sure to put VCBS in the subject line. Yours in Bridging, Trish Kane Membership Coordinator Upcoming Birthdays and Anniversaries:
Joe Nelson, P.O Box 267, Jericho, VT 05465-0267This file posted June 19, 2005 |
