Hutchins Covered Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hutchins Covered Bridge |
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Bridge in U.S. state of Vermont
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| Carries | Hutchins Bridge Road |
| Crosses | South Branch of Trout River |
| Locale | Montgomery, Vermont |
| Maintained by | Town of Montgomery |
| ID number | VT-06-07 |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Covered, Town lattice |
| Material | Wood |
| Total length | 76 ft 11.5 in (23.46 m) |
| Width | 16 ft 0 in (4.88 m) |
| Number of spans | 1 |
| Clearance above | 11 ft 4 in (3.45 m) |
| History | |
| Constructed by | Sheldon and Savannah Jewett |
| Construction end | 1883 |
 Location in Vermont
Location in the United States
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| Area | 1 acre (0.4 ha) |
| NRHP reference No. | 74000219 |
| Added to NRHP | December 30, 1974 |
The Hutchins Covered Bridge is a cool wooden bridge in Montgomery, Vermont. It crosses the South Branch of the Trout River. This bridge was built way back in 1883.
Two brothers, Sheldon & Savannah Jewett, built it. They were famous for building many covered bridges in that area. The Hutchins Covered Bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. This means it's an important historical site!
What Does the Bridge Look Like?
The Hutchins Covered Bridge is found in a quiet, rural part of Montgomery. It carries Hutchins Bridge Road over the river. The bridge is a single span, meaning it crosses the river in one long piece.
It uses a special design called a Town lattice truss. This design uses many crisscrossing wooden planks to make the bridge strong. The bridge is about 77 feet (23 m) long and 19.5 feet (5.9 m) wide. The part you drive on is about 16 feet (4.9 m) wide, just enough for one lane of traffic.
The bridge has a metal roof that comes to a point, like a house. Its outside walls are covered with vertical wooden boards. These boards also go inside the entrance of the bridge. The siding stops before the roof, leaving a small open space. The bridge floor is made of wooden planks. The supports at each end are made of large, stacked stones.
Who Built the Hutchins Bridge?
The Jewett Brothers finished building the Hutchins Covered Bridge in 1883. They owned a sawmill nearby in Montgomery. This is where they prepared all the wood needed for their bridges.
These brothers are known for building seven covered bridges that are still standing today. This is a big deal in Vermont! It's the most bridges built by one family in the whole state.
A Bridge with a Past
Long ago, the area around the Hutchins Bridge was very busy. Even though the road it's on is now a dead end, a company that made butter tubs used to be there. This meant the bridge was used a lot!
Over time, the area became less busy. The bridge was almost forgotten and started to fall apart. At one point, big steel beams were put under the bridge to keep it from falling into the river.
But don't worry, the bridge was saved! In 2009, a company called Alpine Construction rebuilt it. Now, the road leading to the bridge is a small, one-lane gravel path. You can find more stories about the bridge's repair on the Vermont Covered Bridges website.
