Cedar Swamp Bridge 45-01-0 Photo by Eric Foster April 22, 2008

April 22, 2008 The water is still too high to do any work on the new abutments, said Eric Foster, Vtrans Resident Engineer, "so we are working on siding and spraying the bridge with fire proofing and insecticides. The contractor is hopeful to begin abutment work the week of the 28th. We still have considerable work on the abutments and approaches. They still want to be done in June, we'll see if Mother Nature agrees."
      The renovation of the Swamp Road Bridge (Salisbury Station Bridge) is proceeding as usual. With the primary requirement of Vtrans in mind—highway safety, and the primary requirement for preservation by the National Register of Historic Sites, the engineers on the job are challenged daily to fulfill both. Eric Foster, of Vtrans, and Jim Ligon, of Alpine Construction, Stillwater, N.Y. are up to the task.
      It is expected that 100-plus year old wooden bridges hold secrets that even the most thorough pre-construction engineering inspection can't uncover. The "Swamp" bridge hasn't disappointed. While disassembling the structure to replace known rot damaged truss members, members thought to be sound were found to be rotted also. At least one-third more than the thirty-odd lattice members specified in the contract were found to need replacement. Surprises were also found in both upper and lower chords.
      March weather and snow melt, caused Otter creek to cover Cornwall's part of Swamp Road while hurling ice chunks, trees and other flotsam at the bridge under construction.

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BACK IN 1872, Harrison "Tip" Chamberlain, Townshend's famous bridge builder put up what we know as Depot bridge. High water never effected the bridge as it was over a setback of the West River. It was then over a narrow dirt road which led to the former Townshend railroad station. Later this road went off Route 30. This bridge was of sturdy construction, Queenpost truss and was built to replace a poorly built uncovered bridge.

Yesterday - Depot Bridge CRVCBS Bulletin, Summer 1967

      In later years the bridge was used very little, but a great attraction for covered bridge buffs who were riding on beautiful Route 30 where they could also see two other covered bridges, West Dummerston, and Scott bridge now retired from service and is an Historic Site. During the late 1950's we were alerted that this bridge was definitely in the path of the new flood control dam being built in Townshend.
      Since no place was found to have the bridge placed elsewhere, it was taken down, boards marked and stored at Mr. Aubrey Stratton's place in West Townshend. Mr. Stratton, selectman of Townshend, had been of much help in trying to find a place for this old span.
      Several things came up and we believed at one time the old span would be put up in Weston, Vt., and at another we thought it might go to Weathersfield, Conn. But at Mr. Stratton's it remained and as you know, not improving.
      Finally we heard rumors that maybe our old span would again be erected. It seemed Mr. V rest Orton, owner of famous Country Store in Weston, was to build a Victorian Village on land he had purchased in sight of Route 103 in Rockingham, Vermont.

Today - Victorian Village Bridge 45-13-23 Photo by Joe Nelson, Summer 1997

      Up to West Townshend to see Mr. Stratton, for we knew he would know if anything was to be done about re-erecting Depot bridge. Here we learned the bridge was indeed to be erected and a road built by the town of Rockingham leading off Route 103, and through the bridge to the new store.
      As some of you know, Mr. Orton's Country Store is a very attractive reality and nearby over a pond that Mr. Orton had made, the Depot bridge has come to life again, this time only about half as long and now a kingpost truss but with a very sturdy. appearance and as you look at portals you feel you are indeed looking at Depot bridge. AMr. Aubrey Stratton made the pond and put up the bridge.
      In visiting the Country Store and talking with Mr. Orton we learn there is to be a mill nearby and one can get beautiful pictures of the bridge or of the bridge and store. So once again it is used for limited traffic, no trucks allowed.
*[From the Connecticut River Valley Covered Bridge Society Bulletin, Summer 1967]

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[This article is about fighting graffiti and how communities have come together to eradicate it. As bridgers we know how our covered bridges have been disfigured with it. The article has some ideas worth pursuing and two web-sites that have promising products (marked *). If a reader has had experience with these products in protecting covered bridges, please contact the Bridger. Our thanks to Vermont Local Roads Program at St Michael's College for their permission to reprint this article.]

Graffiti can be a problem on signs especially in large cities. It may come as a relief that there is “a community Anti-Graffiti Team in Burlington that includes police officers, business owners and other community members [who] came together in January [2007] to create an anti-graffiti plan that proposes artistic alternatives to random tagging, provides education for taggers on the aesthetic effects of their vandalism, and impose a stiffer penalty for anyone convicted of tagging.”

Photo Courtesy of Vermont Local Roads Program

      Graffiti has been a problem for work forces for a long time. “The Graffiti Removal Team was created in 2001 to scrub walls clean, but it hasn’t stopped taggers. Taggers don’t always consider their art vandalism or defacement, but the City Ordinance calls for a $500 fine on anyone caught defacing property.” (City Gets Tough with Graffiti, Burlington Free Press May 3, 2007).
      Communities are tackling graffiti vandalism with a variety of tools. A comprehensive, systematic approach that includes continuous education, community involvement, improved technologies for removal, updated ordinances, and consistent enforcement and prosecution is recommended. For an excellent list of best practices visit the Graffiti Hurts web site at www.graffitihurts.org.
      Anti-Graffiti sprays exist to prevent graffiti from permanently ruining a sign. New Dimensions Solutions puts out a product known as The Graffiti Shield System. It boasts that the Graffiti Shield System “may be [sprayed] on objects such as public phones, furniture and signs. They do not yellow, peel, flake, chip, nor crack. They enhance the look of all materials and paints. They help prevent rust and corrosion. It resists damage from salt water and is therefore useful on boats and ships. ... The Graffiti Shield System is commonly used to protect murals from graffiti vandalism ... and has been successfully used since 1989.”
      Barco Products provides a soy-based non-hazardous and bio-degradable cleaning solution. For a sample, look for SoySafe Graffiti Remover on Barco Products website.
      The Town of New Haven coats its signs with a product called Night Owl purchased through State Chemical. The main purpose of this product is to increase reflectivity, but an added benefit is the protection it gives from damage including graffiti. Scott Busier states that “this spray adhesive peels off and can be re-applied if damaged.” A can of Night Owl covers twelve 12x18 signs. Busier states the one downfall is, “the adhesive will only work if the sign is 70-90 degrees at the time of application. This forces us to swap out the signs and take them to the shop to warm up before re-applying.” State Chemical will be discontinuing this product in the near future, so stock up now if interested.
      VTrans purchases a product called Graffiti Wipes from Total Solutions (1-414-354-6417). VTrans Traffic Shop states that they’ve been pretty happy with the product so far. It’s nontoxic, non-flammable and non-hazardous. It can also be purchased through Interstate Products. Call Vermont Local Roads if you’d like a copy of the Graffiti Wipes MSDS. Interstate Products also carries Graffiti Guard, a product that acts as a protective barrier making graffiti removal easier.
      For more information visit the websites of the above mentioned sources.
http://burlingtongrt.blogspot.com/
www.barcoproducts.com
http://ndclean.com/graffitishield.htm
http://www.interstateproducts.com/graffiti.htm *
http://www.statechemical.com/ *
http://www.graffitihurts.org
http://www.kab.org

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Question #7 - Why Preserve our Covered Bridges?

Joseph Conwill, ME - This is a good question, and the answer is not so obvious as it seems. Covered bridge preservation is part of the preservation of older architecture and landscapes in general, but why not just tear down everything old and build anew?
      The reason is that continuity in landscape is a factor in developing a sense of identity. Without a large number of familiar and beautiful landmarks, I think people are more likely to develop rootless alienation. This can lead to destructive behavior, or to identification with artificial groupings such as urban gangs or extremist cults.
      Covered Bridges should also be preserved simply because so many people like them, but here we need to be careful. Construction of new covered bridges is not a valid substitute for preserving the old ones which have a true depth of history.

Ben and June Evans, PA - "Why Preserve Our Covered Bridges?" Because they are historic treasures that display the architectural genius and excellent craftsmanship of our forefathers as well as helping to illustrate one of the facets of our transportation system
      Their beauty and charm attract tourists – artists and photographers especially – and help contribute to the economic welfare of the area in which they are found. In some parts of our nation, tourism is listed as the second most important economic factor.

Sean T. James, P.E., SECB, NH - My answer to the question is two-fold; the first is to preserve an important part of our history and the second is that in many locations the bridges can continue to serve as a vital part of our infrastructure.
      I believe the audience to this question does not need to be reminded of the importance of covered bridges in our past. I also believe that they can be an important part of future as well. Bypassing covered bridges and preserving them for pedestrian use, such as being done with the Haverhill-Bath Covered Bridge preserves the bridge for future generations and allows a more extensive, and safer, viewing experience
      Covered bridges can also be modified with reversible measures that work in tandem with the original fabric to serve heavier, modern vehicles loads. This is the case for the Union Village Covered Bridge in Thetford, VT where the bridge was preserved and assisted with heavier loads through the use of glulam beams under the bridge. The beams share the load with the original bridge and don’t take the full load as is the case with steel beams. To me this is a great compromise as the original bridge is left intact, yet it can carry heavier loads that are critical to the Towns life safety requirements due to the 14 mile detour to a ‘modern’ bridge.

Bob & Trish Kane, NY - If you look up the word preserve or preservation using a Thesaurus, you come up with some interesting synonyms: protect, conserve, safeguard, save, care for, keep, continue, and sustain. Each of them defines reasons why we should preserve our covered bridges.
      For those of us dedicated to their preservation, it is obvious we preserve them for their historical significance, their beauty and their connection to our forefathers. But most importantly, it is important to preserve them to learn from the engineering techniques and the craftsmanship from the past. They are unlike any we see today and they should be preserved at all costs. Once these wonderful examples are gone, they are gone forever.

John Weaver, VT - Indeed, why save CBs? Not only for their historic significance, but for their useful function as local transportation structures. Many still serve this vital second purpose on town roads in Vermont.
      Rehabilitating covered bridges costs no more (and often less) than the construction of new bridges at the same or adjacent sites.
      The tourist attraction value and historic preservation value of rehabilitated covered bridges is an added benefit.

Miriam Wood, OH - The covered timber truss bridge as we know it today originated in Europe in the Middle Ages and maybe even earlier, and were very common there. When our European ancestors came over here in the 1700 and 1800s, they brought with them the knowledge and skills to build these bridges. With all the timber available here, thousands of covered bridges were built across the United State and Canada.
      Hundreds of our old covered bridges still stand, many of them doing what they were built to do: carrying daily traffic. The covered bridge is an important part of our engineering and historic heritage and we must preserve them so future generations will learn about this important part of our country’s transportation history.

Thomas E. Walczak, PA - Since the beginning of time, man has employed his God-given talents and ingenuity to develop practical solutions to problems to make his quality of life better for himself and future generations, to erect monuments to immortalize individuals who have greatly contributed to their society or accomplished great feats, or to leave lasting artifacts or works of art which portray the beauty of life as they knew or perceived it to be or to entertain our senses. Many of the great cultures or civilizations have left buildings, monuments, and various artifacts which have endured to the present time and have stood the test of time and are regarded to be of value for future generations to learn from and to enjoy. The ancient Egyptians have left the great pyramids, the Greeks and Romans have left us their monuments and various examples of architecture, the Renaissance painters have left great works of art, various composers have left us with classical music, while countless inventors and scientists have left us with their own individual contributions which have improved the quality of life for many, etc, etc.
      Covered bridges too, were a practical solution to fulfill a basic transportation need and have endured the test of time and are indeed most worthy of preservation. These 19th and 20th Century landmarks are a testament to the pioneer bridge builders that speak of the values, character, and work ethic that made up these men and who contributed greatly to aid the flow of commerce and to spread expansion and development of a growing American nation. And too, there is something to be said about the beauty of a covered bridge which is comprised of natural materials and looks in harmony with its natural surroundings. Each covered bridge is unique with individual characteristics and setting and so we must make every effort to preserve each one as is humanly possible.
      And so, I believe we have a moral obligation to preserve these historic icons from our past that have been entrusted to our care. We are just one generation in a long succession of those who preceded us and those who will follow us so it is imperative that we try to preserve these remaining examples for future generations to learn from and to enjoy. If we fail to fulfill this obligation then our covered bridges will disappear forever and future generations will never know the value and beauty of these magnificent landmarks. The time is now and we must continue the legacy that has been entrusted to us. It is my hope that future generations will also continue to recognize these values and carry on the tradition of preserving our beloved historic covered bridges after we are gone.