Gilsum Stone Arch Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Gilsum Stone Arch Bridge
|
|
 |
|
 Location in New Hampshire
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | Surry Rd. over the Ashuelot River W of jct. NH 10, Gilsum, New Hampshire |
|---|---|
| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1863 |
| Architect | William Leonard Kingsbury |
| Architectural style | Dry Masonry Arch Bridge |
| NRHP reference No. | 89001207 |
| Added to NRHP | August 31, 1989 |
The Gilsum Stone Arch Bridge is a historic bridge in Gilsum, New Hampshire. It carries Surry Road over the Ashuelot River. This amazing bridge was built between 1862 and 1863. It is one of the tallest stone arch bridges in all of New Hampshire.
The bridge is very high above the river. Its roadway is about 43 feet (13 meters) above the riverbed. The bridge itself stands on the spot where four other bridges used to be. The river flows through a deep gorge here.
Contents
Building the Gilsum Bridge
The Gilsum Stone Arch Bridge was designed by William Leonard Kingsbury. He was a local official in Gilsum. Sadly, we don't know who actually built the bridge. This is because the town's records were lost in a fire.
A Strong Design
The bridge's main arch is built very carefully. It uses special stones called voussoirs. These are wedge-shaped granite stones. They fit together perfectly without any mortar or cement. This is called "dry-laid" construction.
The builders used larger stones at the bottom of the arch. Smaller stones were used at the very top, called the crown. Some of the stones were left rough. Others were smoothed out by hand.
Previous Bridges
Before this bridge, another stone arch bridge was built in 1860. But it wasn't built very well. It collapsed just a few months later. That's why the town needed a new, stronger bridge.
Bridge Features
The parts of the bridge that support the arch are called abutments. These and the side walls are made from rough-cut granite. They are held in place by small stone chips.
In 1951, one of the abutments was rebuilt. It used granite over concrete. The original stone edges along the road were replaced around the 1920s. Now, there are concrete edges with steel safety cables.
A Historic Landmark
The Gilsum Stone Arch Bridge is very important. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1989. This means it's a special place that is protected for future generations.
