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Back to NY New Index.Covered Bridge News
By Bob and Trish Kane
Delaware County:
Fitches Covered Bridge - NY 32-13-02 Phil. Pierce, Deputy Commissioner for Delaware
County's Department of Public Works reported that much has happened with the Fitches Bridge
over the past few months.
Fitches Bridge. Photo by Bob and Trish Kane June 17,
2001 →Corners of the existing abutments have been removed to accommodate the slightly longer rebuilt trusses. If you recall, the trusses will be restored to their original length, eliminating the significant weakness caused when they were shortened while removing an outside stick, to replace an inside stick, workers were surprised to find that little furry critters had created a home in a pair of top chord members. The identity of the critters is unclear, but the damage as extensive. Their craftsmanship effectively removed the entire pair of chord sticks that gave assistance to supporting the axial compression in the bridge. The redundant nature of the Town Lattice was a saving grace that enable the bridge to remain standing. Due to the surprise of the critter home, workers separated all of the top chord pairs looking for other 'surprises'.
A large load of timber is on hand, but more will have to be ordered if there are any new surprises. Currently, the focus is on the repair of the upstream truss while the contractor awaits delivery of the remaining timbers, which will allow them to finish both trusses.
Closer inspection of the bottom chord found it to be extremely decayed. When the bridge was moved to this site, the span had to be shortened from that at its original location in Delhi. The means to shorten the bridge was to flare the end lattice members, so that the bottoms of them clustered together on a short bearing area. A related unusual feature of the previous work was to support both upper and lower bottom chord ends at the bearing area (the upper bottom chords were supported by the back-wall of the abutment). These flared lattices will be replaced with conventional parallel lattice members at the end of the rehabilitated structure. The lengthened trusses will be supported only at the lower bottom chord as is typical with Town Lattice bridges. Lattice members needing replacement, due primarily to deterioration in the lower bottom chord connections have been identified.
Due to major powder post beetle damage in the trunnels, replacements have been ordered. The glue-lam floor beams will be delivered shortly and they are still on schedule for completion by the fall of 2001. For up-to-date photos on the Fitches Covered Bridge, be sure to visit Joe Nelson's website at www.vermontbridges.com.
Phil is available to respond to queries and prefers to answer any questions, rather than have them go unanswered or be the subject of speculation. Many thanks to him for being so very accommodating and keeping us informed on the Fitches Covered Bridge.
Hamden Covered Bridge - NY 32-13-03 Join us! The tents are ordered, the speakers
have responded, the band is warming up and sunshine has been requested, all in preparation for
the dedication of the restored Hamden Covered Bridge!
Hamden Bridge. Photo by Bob and Trish Kane June
17, 2001 →The Town of Hamden is busy making plans for this special occasion, on Saturday, July 28, 2001. Although there is still much to do, here are some highlights of the day. The ceremony will begin at 11:00 a.m. and will be held on the bridge, which will be closed to traffic that day. Special guest speakers will be Congressman Sherwood Boehlert and Senator John Bonacic. Representatives from various covered bridge societies will also give brief remarks. The New York State Covered Bridge Society, The Theodore Burr Covered Bridge Society, Vermont Covered Bridge Society, The Bridge-Covered, and the National Society for the Preservation of Covered Bridges will all participate in the event.
Covered bridge enthusiasts will have the opportunity to learn more about the Hamden Covered Bridge from the Hamden Community and Historical Association and to purchase covered bridge items and memorabilia from the many organizations and crafters in attendance. And of course, for those who get hungry, food vendors will be on hand. The Hamden Community and Historical Association will sponsor a delicious chicken BBQ.
Plenty of parking will be available on the east side of the bridge via the Town of DeLancey. Watch for parking signs to assist you. If you are planning to stay overnight, please make your reservations now, as accommodations are limited. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Wayne Marshfield, Supervisor, Town of Hamden. We hope you will join the Town of Hamden and covered bridge enthusiasts on July 28 for this exciting historic event.
Saratoga County:
Copeland Bridge - NY 32-46-01 Other than landscaping around the bridge, and a few finishing touches, restoration of the bridge is almost complete. Marvin Wilson has been working on the landscaping, but due to major heart surgery, his work has been temporarily delayed. When it commences, a 3- to 4-space parking area and a handicap-accessible path with stonework on each side will be constructed near the carriage house. Boy Scouts earning their Eagle badges will be planting bushes, flowers, and plants once the path is completed. Completion date will be in the spring of 2002 and a dedication to celebrate the restoration of the Copeland Covered Bridge will be planned at that time.
Ulster County:
Ashokan/Turnwood - NY- 32-56-05 Andy Angstrom, Director of the SUNY Ashokan Field Campus, reports that the bridge is in great shape. The roadway, on the other hand, developed some problems over the spring flood season. He commented, "the workers who set the bridge back in 1939 showed great wisdom in making it NOT the weakest link". He also notes that they have placed a large cedar gazebo on the top of the hill above the falls. It will include interpretive material regarding the social and natural history of the site, explanations of the mill and the water resource, information about Ashokan programs and mission, and information regarding the conservation easement (which includes the bridge) and the Rondout Esopus Land Conservancy. He also plans to include information on the covered bridge.
Other news: DeLorme Atlas Project - What can we say? A project we thought would take us two years to complete is almost finished . . . in under a year! Covered bridge enthusiasts are special folks, indeed. Several others have contacted us to work on a state, and we sure do appreciate it. They are: Maryland, Joanne Schmitz and Jim Smedley; Dan Brock, (what a guy - not only did he work on his home state of Connecticut, but took on Massachusetts and Rhode Island as well!), and South Carolina and Tennessee, Warren White. A big thanks to all of you for your assistance in this endeavor. We are now down to six states . . . California, Minnesota, New Jersey, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin. If you would like to join in, please do not hesitate to contact us. And remember, you do not have to live in the state that you work on. You can reach us at: Bob and Trish Kane, 167 Williams Rd., Sherburne, NY 13460 or e-mail us at bobtrish68@clarityconnect.com
The official State and National Register of Historic Places Certificates for New York's Covered Bridges have arrived, and we are extremely honored to be able to present them to the appropriate parties throughout the summer months.
Correction: In the last issue of the NSPCB newsletter, we reported that the Denmar/Locust Creek Covered Bridge - WV 48-38-01 was listed as a Warren Double Intersection Truss. However, we noted in the winter 2000 and spring 2000 issues of Covered Bridge Topics that Joe Conwill referred to this bridge as a Smith type truss, which is correct. We apologize for any misunderstanding the error in our reporting may have caused. A correction will be made in the next printing of the World Guide as well as other publications and websites.
Joe Nelson, P.O Box 267, Jericho, VT 05465-0267, jcnelson@together.netCopyright © 2001, Bob and Trish Kane
This file posted July 1, 2001