East Fairfield Covered Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids East Fairfield Covered Bridge |
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| Coordinates | 44°47′10″N 72°51′43″W / 44.78611°N 72.86194°W |
| Carries | Automobile |
| Crosses | Black Creek |
| Locale | East Fairfield, Vermont |
| Maintained by | Town of East Fairfield |
| ID number | VT-06-03 |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Covered, Queen post |
| Material | Wood |
| Total length | 67.3 ft (20.51 m) |
| Width | 13.6 ft (4.15 m) |
| Number of spans | 1 |
| History | |
| Construction end | 1865 |
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East Fairfield Covered Bridge
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| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| NRHP reference No. | 74000214 |
| Added to NRHP | November 19, 1974 |
The East Fairfield Covered Bridge is a special covered bridge in East Fairfield, Vermont. It carries Bridge Street over Black Creek. This bridge was built around 1865. It is the only covered bridge from the 1800s still standing in the town. The bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974 because of its importance.
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Discovering the East Fairfield Covered Bridge
The East Fairfield Covered Bridge is found at the west end of East Fairfield village. It's on Bridge Street, not far from Vermont Route 36. The bridge crosses Black Creek, which flows into the Missisquoi River. It faces mostly northeast to southwest.
How the Bridge Was Built
This bridge uses a special design called a Queen post truss. It is about 68 feet (21 m) long and 16.5 feet (5.0 m) wide. The part where cars drive is about 13 feet (4.0 m) wide, which is enough for one lane of traffic.
The bridge sits on stone supports called abutments. These supports were first built with stones placed without mortar. Later, concrete and mortar were added to make them stronger. The bridge's wooden frame includes strong iron rods that go up and down. Other iron rods connect the top parts to make the bridge more stable. The road itself is made of wooden planks laid across the bridge. The outside of the bridge is covered with vertical wooden boards. These boards also extend a little bit inside the entrances. The bridge was built around 1865, but we don't know who built it.
Keeping the Bridge Strong
Over the years, the town tried many times to keep the bridge open. But eventually, it had to be closed to all traffic for safety. In August 2008, a company called Blow & Cote started rebuilding the bridge. The work was finished, and the bridge was opened again on July 5, 2009.
Images for kids
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The East Fairfield Covered Bridge in September 2007, before reconstruction
