Sanderson Covered Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Sanderson Covered Bridge
|
|
 |
|
 Location in Vermont
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | Pearl St., west of Brandon, Vermont |
|---|---|
| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | c. 1840 |
| Architectural style | Town lattice truss |
| NRHP reference No. | 74000258 |
| Added to NRHP | June 13, 1974 |
The Sanderson Covered Bridge is a special old bridge in Brandon, Vermont. It carries Pearl Street over Otter Creek. This bridge was built around 1840.
It is one of the oldest covered bridges in all of Vermont. It is also the only bridge from the 1800s still standing in Brandon. Because it is so important, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.
Contents
Exploring the Sanderson Covered Bridge
The Sanderson Covered Bridge is about 1.3 miles (2.1 km) west of Brandon's town center. You can find it on Pearl Street. This road helps people get to the west side of Brandon and to nearby Sudbury.
How Long and Wide Is It?
The bridge is a single span, meaning it crosses the creek in one go. The main part of the bridge is 123 feet (37 m) long. The entire structure, including the parts that rest on the ground, is 131.5 feet (40.1 m) long.
The road inside the bridge is 18 feet (5.5 m) wide. The total width of the bridge is 21.5 feet (6.6 m).
What Is a Town Lattice Truss?
The Sanderson Covered Bridge uses a special design called a Town lattice truss. This design was invented by Ithiel Town. It uses many wooden planks crisscrossing each other. This creates a strong, web-like pattern. This pattern helps the bridge hold a lot of weight.
What Is the Bridge Made Of?
The bridge rests on strong supports called abutments. These are made from marble slabs. They have been made even stronger with concrete.
The outside of the bridge has vertical wooden boards. The openings at each end, called portals, have simple pilasters. Pilasters are like flat columns that stick out from the wall. The road you drive on inside the bridge is made of wood. Strong laminated beams have been added underneath for extra support.
The History of Brandon's Covered Bridges
The Sanderson Covered Bridge was built around 1840. When it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places, it was one of two old covered bridges left in Brandon.
Sadly, the other 19th-century bridge, called the Dean Covered Bridge, was destroyed. Someone set it on fire in 1986. This makes the Sanderson Covered Bridge even more special today. It is a true survivor from the past.
