Gould's Mill Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Gould's Mill Bridge
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view of the west side
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 Location in Vermont
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| Location | Town Hwy. 66 (Paddock Rd.) over the Black River, Springfield, Vermont |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1929 |
| Built by | Boston Bridge Works |
| Architectural style | Baltimore through truss |
| MPS | Metal Truss, Masonry, and Concrete Bridges in Vermont MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 05001589 |
| Added to NRHP | February 1, 2006 |
The Gould's Mill Bridge is a special bridge in Springfield, Vermont. It's a historic bridge that uses a design called a Baltimore truss. This bridge carries Paddock Street over the Black River.
The Boston Bridge Works Company built the bridge in 1929. It was built after a very big flood in 1927. This bridge is important because it's one of only a few Baltimore truss bridges in Vermont. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2006.
About the Gould's Mill Bridge
The Gould's Mill Bridge is located in a small village called Goulds Mill. This village is south of the main town of Springfield. It's also a short distance west of the Eureka Schoolhouse.
The bridge is made of strong steel. It has one main section, called a single span. This span rests on sturdy concrete supports. The bridge is about 160 feet (49 meters) long. The road on the bridge is about 23 feet (7 meters) wide. Vehicles up to 18 feet 6 inches (5.6 meters) tall can pass under it.
The bridge carries two lanes of traffic. It also has a path for walking and biking. This path is part of the Toonerville Rail Trail. The bridge was last fixed up and made stronger in 2009.
Why Was This Bridge Built?
The Gould's Mill Bridge was built in 1929. It replaced an older railroad bridge. That old bridge was washed away during the terrible Great Vermont Flood of 1927. This flood caused a lot of damage across Vermont.
The new bridge was designed to be very strong. It was built to handle heavy loads, like railroad engines and their cargo. This is why it's stronger than many regular road bridges.
What is a Baltimore Truss?
The Gould's Mill Bridge uses a special design called a Baltimore through truss. A "truss" is a framework of triangles. These triangles make a bridge very strong and stable.
The Baltimore truss is a type of "Pratt truss." It has extra vertical pieces in the lower parts of its panels. These extra pieces help to make the bridge even stronger.
The bridge has some parts that look a bit uneven. This is because it was first used as a railroad bridge. Its angle across the river is also a bit slanted. This slant helped it fit the tracks of the Springfield Terminal Railway Company. Today, the rail trail follows that old railway route.
When the bridge was added to the National Register in 2006, it was one of only two Baltimore truss bridges used for highways in Vermont.
