West Swanzey Covered Bridge

West Swanzey Covered Bridge
Postcard view c. 1915 showing both sidewalks
Location Main St., West Swanzey, New Hampshire
Coordinates 42°52′18″N 72°19′42″W / 42.87167°N 72.32833°W / 42.87167; -72.32833Coordinates: 42°52′18″N 72°19′42″W / 42.87167°N 72.32833°W / 42.87167; -72.32833
Area 1 acre (0.40 ha)
Built 1832
Architect Taft, Zadoc
Architectural style Town truss
NRHP reference # 80000281[1]
Added to NRHP February 29, 1980

The West Swanzey Covered Bridge (also known as the Thompson Bridge) is a historic wooden covered bridge carrying Main Street over the Ashuelot River in West Swanzey, New Hampshire. The two-span Town lattice truss bridge was built in 1832 by Zadoc Taft for the town at a cost of $523.27. It is 136'10" long, with spans measuring 64'0" and 63'6",[2] and rests on a stone central pier and abutments. Unusual for surviving covered bridges, the bridge occupies a central location in the village of West Swanzey, and was originally equipped with two sidewalks (it now has only one). In 1973 the bridge was posted for a six-ton limit, requiring school buses to empty before they could cross the bridge.[3] It was closed to all traffic in 1990,[2] but has since been rehabilitated and reopened.

The bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.[1]

The bridge in 2015

See also

References

  1. 1 2 National Park Service (2009-03-13). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.
  2. 1 2 "West Swanzey Covered Bridge". New Hampshire DHR. Retrieved 2014-04-18.
  3. ↑ "NRHP nomination for West Swanzey Covered Bridge". National Park Service. Retrieved 2014-04-18.


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