Milford Suspension Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Milford Suspension Bridge
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 Location in New Hampshire
Location in the United States
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| Location | Spanning Souhegan River near downtown Milford, New Hampshire |
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| Built | 1889 |
| Architectural style | Cable suspension bridge |
| NRHP reference No. | 100001321 |
| Added to NRHP | July 17, 2017 |
The Milford Suspension Bridge is a really old and important bridge in Milford, New Hampshire. It's a special bridge just for people to walk across, and it goes over the Souhegan River. This bridge was built way back in 1889. It's super unique because it's the only bridge left in New Hampshire that was made by a company called the Berlin Iron Bridge Company. It's also one of the few suspension bridges from the 1800s that are still standing! Because it's so special, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2017.
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About the Milford Suspension Bridge
The Milford Suspension Bridge is located in downtown Milford. You can find it a short walk east of the Milford Oval. It stretches from the end of Bridge Street right over the Souhegan River.
How Big is the Bridge?
This bridge is quite long, measuring about 275 feet (or 84 meters). It's built using strong metal parts that are riveted together, along with thick cables. The part you walk on, called the deck, is made of wood. To keep people safe, there's modern chain link fencing along its sides.
How the Bridge Was Built
The bridge rests on special supports called abutments. These are like strong foundations on each side of the river. They are made from rough, local granite stones.
History of the Milford Suspension Bridge
The Milford Suspension Bridge was built in 1889. Back then, many people walked from their homes on the north side of the river. They would cross the bridge to get to shops, factories, and town buildings on the south side.
Who Built the Bridge?
Local stone workers built the strong granite abutments. The main part of the bridge was built by the Berlin Iron Bridge Company. This company was a very famous builder of metal bridges in the late 1800s, especially in New England. They built 78 bridges in New Hampshire, but the Milford Suspension Bridge is the only one left!
Bridge Restoration
The bridge had a big repair job in 1975. This is when the chain link fencing was added to make it safer for everyone.
