comstock.030623

Work Begun on Montgomery's Comstock Bridge. June 23, 2003 - Work has begun on the historic Comstock Bridge [WGN 45-06-04]. The siding has been stripped away exposing the trusses. Today the roofing is being removed. The floor of the bridge is littered with rotten cedar shingles and broken purlins. Many of the purlins are so rotten they crumble to the touch. The bridge is swarming with carpenter ants evicted from their nests among the shingles. The metal roof, now removed, was installed years ago without removing the old shingles.        "We have found a lot more rot than the inspection showed," said Nathan Cote. "The end-posts on the far (east) end will need to be replaced."        "A mouse ran out of the ridge pole," said Roland Blais. I found a lot of mouse nests up there." The middle section of the ridge pole isn't too bad, Roland said, but the end sections are in bad shape.        This observer noted that many of the rafters were in need of replacement as well. Comstock Bridge West end. Note end of ridge pole rotted. Photo by Joe Nelson, June 23, 2003 Comstock Bridge Siding stripped, truss exposed. Photo by Joe Nelson, June 23, 2003 Comstock Bridge Bridge floor covered with rotted roffing Photo by Joe Nelson, June 23, 2003 Comstock Bridge Truss end-post detail. Photo by Joe Nelson, June 23, 2003

Return to top