Hectorville Covered Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Hectorville Covered Bridge
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The bridge in 1970
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 Location in Vermont
Location in the United States
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| Location | Originally on Gibou Rd., Montgomery, Vermont |
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| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1860 |
| Built by | Jewett, Sheldon & Savannah |
| Architectural style | Town lattice truss |
| NRHP reference No. | 74000217 |
| Added to NRHP | November 20, 1974 |
The Hectorville Covered Bridge is a special old bridge in Montgomery, Vermont. It's called a covered bridge because it has a roof and walls, just like a house! This helps protect the wooden parts from weather.
This historic bridge was built by Sheldon & Savannah Jewett. They were famous for building many covered bridges in Montgomery. The Hectorville Covered Bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. This means it's an important part of history that should be protected.
What is the Hectorville Covered Bridge Like?
The Hectorville Covered Bridge is about 52.5 feet (16.0 m) long. That's roughly the length of a bowling lane! It is 19.5 feet (5.9 m) wide, but the part where cars drove was 16 feet (4.9 m) wide. Only one car could cross at a time.
The outside of the bridge is covered with wooden boards that stand up straight. It has a metal roof shaped like a triangle. The sides of the bridge go a little bit inside the openings. This helps keep the ends of the bridge's frame safe from rain and snow. The road part of the bridge is made of wooden planks.
How Was the Bridge Built?
The Hectorville Covered Bridge uses a special design called a Town lattice truss. This means the wooden beams inside cross each other in a criss-cross pattern, like a fence. This design makes the bridge very strong.
The exact year the bridge was built isn't known for sure. However, we know it was built by the Jewett brothers. They built many of Montgomery's covered bridges. It's amazing that so many bridges in one area were built by the same family!
The Jewett brothers used the same measurements for most of their bridges. Only the length would change. They even got their wood ready at their own lumberyard.
Where Has the Bridge Been?
The Hectorville Covered Bridge was first built in Montgomery Center. Later, in the early 1900s, it was moved to Gibou Road.
As of 2003, the bridge was taken apart and stored in a local construction yard. The town was deciding where to put it next and planning repairs. It's a bit like a giant puzzle waiting to be put back together!
