Arthur A. Smith Covered Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Arthur A. Smith Covered Bridge
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | Lyonsville Road over the North River, Colrain, Massachusetts |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1868 |
| NRHP reference No. | 83000592 |
| Added to NRHP | February 3, 1983 |
The Arthur A. Smith Covered Bridge is a really old and special bridge in Colrain, Massachusetts. It's a type of bridge called a covered bridge, which means it has walls and a roof. This bridge carries Lyonsville Road over the North River. It was built way back in 1869. What makes it extra special is that it's the only bridge in Massachusetts that uses a unique design called a Burr truss. It's also one of the few covered bridges from the 1800s still standing in the state. Because it's so important, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.
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Discovering the Arthur A. Smith Covered Bridge
The Arthur A. Smith Covered Bridge is found west of Colrain's main town area. It helps Lyonsville Road cross the North River. This is just a short distance west of Massachusetts Route 112.
How Big is the Bridge?
The bridge is about 100 feet (30 meters) long. Its outside width is 17 feet (5.2 meters). The inside width, where cars drive, is 12 feet (3.7 meters). This is wide enough for one car at a time. Much of the slate on its roof was reused from the original bridge. The outside walls have no windows. They are made of vertical pine boards.
What is a Burr Truss?
The bridge's main structure uses a design called a Burr Truss. This design combines two types of supports. It uses ten strong, braced posts. These posts are held tight by large, curved wooden arches. These arches "sandwich" the posts, making the bridge very strong.
Bridge Upgrades Over Time
In 1920, the bridge was made even stronger. Workers added two huge laminated wooden arches. These arches were made from 2-inch by 12-inch spruce planks. The planks were bent and stacked to form an arch. They stretched from one end of the bridge to the other. These new arches followed the curve of the original Burr Truss arch. Steel rods hang from these arches. They help hold up the bridge's deck, which is the part you drive on.
History of the Arthur A. Smith Bridge
The bridge was first built in 1869. It was meant to cross the North River in Colrain. This spot was near where the Fox Brook joins the river.
Moving the Bridge to a New Home
The original location was prone to flooding. In 1878, a flood badly damaged the bridge. It was then left unused for many years. In 1896, the town decided to fix it up. They also moved it to its current location. Here, it became part of the main road to Heath. This area was known as the "Arthur A. Smith Flats." This name came from a well-known local person who lived there.
A New Life for the Bridge
In 1982, the bridge was taken out of service for cars. It was moved to land next to the river. Then, in 2007, it had a big rebuilding project. This project cost $2.1 million. A new version of the Arthur A. Smith Bridge was placed back over the river. However, it was not opened for cars to drive on.
Surviving the Storms
The bridge was only slightly damaged during Hurricane Irene in 2011. This hurricane caused record flooding. The bridge survived so well because of its strong design. It was also placed on high supports called abutments. These lift it far above the surrounding floodplain.
