Bennett Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Bennett Bridge
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | Wilson Mills, Maine |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1901 |
| Architectural style | Paddleford truss |
| NRHP reference No. | 70000055 |
| Added to NRHP | February 16, 1970 |
The Bennett Bridge is a really old and special covered bridge located in a quiet, country part of Oxford County, Maine. It used to help people cross the Magalloway River on Littlehale Road, near a small village called Wilsons Mills. This bridge was built in 1901, making it one of the oldest covered bridges still standing in Maine! Because it's so important, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1970.
What Makes the Bennett Bridge Special?
The Bennett Bridge is a type of bridge called a Paddleford truss bridge. Imagine a strong framework of wooden beams that cross each other diagonally. These diagonal beams are connected to upright posts, like a giant puzzle held together with metal bolts. This design makes the bridge very sturdy.
The bridge is about 92 feet (28 m) long, which is like having nine school buses lined up end-to-end! It sits on strong granite blocks at each end. The bridge is about 16 feet wide, but the part where cars used to drive is a bit narrower, about 14 feet wide.
From the road up to the top of its roof, the bridge stands about 23 feet (7.0 m) tall. The opening where vehicles entered is about 15 feet (4.6 m) high. The sides of the bridge are covered with wooden boards that go almost all the way up to the roof. The ends of the bridge, around the entrance, are also covered with these boards. To make it even stronger, there are thick wire cables at each corner. These cables are tied down to concrete blocks about 25 feet (7.6 m) away from the bridge.
Why Was the Bridge Built?
The Bennett Bridge was built in 1901. Its main job was to help people from small farms get to Maine State Route 16. This was the main road in the area, so the bridge was super important for connecting these farms to the rest of the world.
The bridge crosses the Magalloway River at a spot where the water flows very quickly. This part of Maine is quite hilly, and the river passes through a narrow valley. For many years, the bridge was used a lot, even by big logging trucks that worked in the nearby forests. Because of all the heavy use, the bridge was closed to traffic in 1985 to keep it safe.
