Porter-Parsonsfield Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Porter-Parsonsfield Bridge
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | Porter, Maine |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1876 |
| Architectural style | Paddleford Truss |
| NRHP reference No. | 70000058 |
| Added to NRHP | February 16, 1970 |
The Porter-Parsonsfield Bridge is a really old and cool covered bridge located in western Maine. It's special because it's one of the few covered bridges from the 1800s that are still standing in the state! This bridge crosses the Ossipee River and connects the towns of Porter and Parsonsfield. Built in 1876, it used to carry cars and wagons, but now it's a historic landmark. The state of Maine takes care of it, and it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1970.
Contents
What Does the Bridge Look Like?
The Porter-Parsonsfield Bridge is made up of two main sections, called spans. These spans rest on strong foundations made of granite blocks. There's one block foundation on each riverbank and another strong support in the middle of the river.
Bridge Size and Shape
The whole bridge is about 152 feet (46 m) long. That's like half a football field! From the bridge floor to the top of its pointy roof, it stands about 26 feet (7.9 m) tall. The bridge is 22 feet (6.7 m) wide. The openings where you enter the bridge are about 18 feet (5.5 m) wide and 15 feet 6 inches (4.72 m) high.
How the Bridge Was Built
The inside of the bridge uses a special design called a Paddleford truss. This design helps the bridge be very strong. Later, in the 1900s, extra support was added. These supports are called laminated arches. They are made of 21 layers of wood planks bolted together. The sides of the bridge are covered with wooden boards, and the roof is made of cedar shingles.
A Look Back: The Bridge's History
People have been building bridges at this spot over the Ossipee River for a long time. The river flows slowly here, but then speeds up as it heads towards Kezar Falls.
Early Bridges at This Spot
The very first bridge connecting Porter and Parsonsfield was built in 1800. After that, another bridge was built in 1808, and a third one in 1858.
A Bridge with a Story
When the third bridge was built, the towns of Porter and Parsonsfield had a disagreement. They couldn't agree on how much each town should pay for it! Even after they finally reached an agreement, there was still some bad feelings. So, when the current bridge was built in 1876, they couldn't even agree on what kind of roofing materials to use. Because of this, each half of the bridge ended up with different shingles on its roof!
The Bridge Today
The Porter-Parsonsfield Bridge was closed to cars and trucks in 1960. That's when a new road was built nearby. In 1967, the state of Maine took over caring for the bridge. Around that time, the roof was replaced, and the bridge got a big restoration to keep it strong and safe for many more years.
