Sawyers Crossing Covered Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Sawyers Crossing Covered Bridge
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Sawyers Crossing/Cresson Bridge
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 Location in New Hampshire
Location in the United States
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| Location | Sawyers Crossing Road over the Ashuelot River, Swanzey, New Hampshire |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1859 |
| Architectural style | Town truss |
| NRHP reference No. | 78000211 |
| Added to NRHP | November 14, 1978 |
The Sawyers Crossing Covered Bridge, also called the Cresson Bridge, is a special wooden bridge. It crosses the Ashuelot River in northern Swanzey, New Hampshire. This bridge was built in 1859 to replace an even older one.
It's still used today as an important part of Swanzey's roads. The Sawyers Crossing Bridge is one of the few covered bridges from the 1800s that are still standing in New Hampshire. Because it's so old and important, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. This list helps protect special places in the United States.
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About the Sawyers Crossing Bridge
The Sawyers Crossing Covered Bridge is found just north of the main village in Swanzey. It stretches across the Ashuelot River, generally running from east to west. This bridge is built using a special design called a Town truss. This means it has a strong crisscross pattern of wooden beams.
How the Bridge is Built
The bridge rests on strong supports called abutments. These are made of large, split granite stones. There is also a central pier (a support in the middle of the river) made of the same stone. The outside of the bridge is covered with wooden boards placed up and down. It has a metal roof shaped like a triangle. The openings at each end, called portals, are shaped like rectangles with rounded top corners.
The Sawyers Crossing Bridge is about 117 feet (35.7 meters) long. It is also about 17 feet (5.2 meters) wide.
History of the Covered Bridge
This bridge was built in 1859. It replaced a much older bridge that had been there since 1771. Over the years, metal parts like tie rods and bolts have been added. These help make the bridge even stronger and safer. The bridge is also regularly checked and repaired to keep it in good shape.
The "Kissing Bridge" Story
The Sawyers Crossing Covered Bridge became famous in 1953. A picture of it was used in an advertisement for cigarettes. In the ad, the bridge was called the "kissing bridge." This nickname made it well-known to many people.
