Grist Mill Bridge (Lebanon, Maine) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Grist Mill Bridge
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | Lebanon, Maine |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1885 |
| NRHP reference No. | 90001905 |
| Added to NRHP | December 27, 1990 |
The Grist Mill Bridge is a special old bridge in Lebanon, Maine. It carries Little River Road over the Little River. Even though parts of the bridge were rebuilt in the 1800s, it still looks and works much like it did a long time ago.
This bridge is important because it's a rare example in Maine. It still has some parts that are like bridges from the 1700s! Because of its history, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
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Discovering the Grist Mill Bridge's Past
The Grist Mill Bridge is found in a quiet, rural area of eastern Lebanon. Little River Road follows the Little River as it flows south. The river eventually joins the Salmon Falls River near Berwick.
Where is the Grist Mill Bridge?
You can find the bridge where the road crosses the river. The river makes an S-shaped bend right there. Just a short distance downstream from the bridge is the Old Grist Mill. This mill was built way back in 1774.
How Old is the Bridge?
Old papers about the mill show that a bridge was already standing here when the mill was built. This means there might have been a bridge here as early as 1774! State records also have photos of the bridge from 1924. They also show that the wooden top part of the bridge was replaced in 1885.
Other old documents from 1792 and 1822 also talk about bridges nearby. However, we can't be totally sure if they are talking about this exact bridge. The stone parts of the bridge look similar to the stone foundation of the old mill. They also look like what's left of the mill's dam.
What Does the Bridge Look Like?
The oldest parts of the bridge are its supports. These are called abutments and a pier. They are made of stones stacked without any mortar, which is called "dry laid rubblestone." These stone supports hold the wooden bridge deck about 13 feet (4 meters) above the water.
The support on the south side has a special wall that extends out. This wall is about 50 feet (15 meters) long. It acts as a base and a retaining wall for the road. The wooden top part of the bridge is 54 feet (16 meters) long. It is about 13 feet (4 meters) wide.
