Simpsonville Stone Arch Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Simpsonville Stone Arch Bridge
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From upstream, in 2016
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 Location in Vermont
Location in the United States
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| Location | VT 35, Townshend, Vermont |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1909 |
| Built by | James Otis Follett |
| NRHP reference No. | 77000105 |
| Added to NRHP | April 11, 1977 |
The Simpsonville Stone Arch Bridge is a really old bridge in Townshend, Vermont. It carries Vermont Route 35 over a small stream called Simpson Brook. This special bridge was built around 1909.
It's important because it's one of the few bridges still standing that was built by a skilled local builder, James Otis Follett. The bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977. This means it's recognized as a significant historical place.
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Discovering the Simpsonville Bridge
The Simpsonville Bridge is found on Grafton Road, which is also called Vermont Route 35. It's about 2 miles (3.2 km) north of the main village of Townshend. The bridge crosses Simpson Brook, just east of where Simpson Brook Road meets Grafton Road.
How the Bridge Was Built
This bridge is made from large, rough pieces of granite stone. These stones are held together with a type of cement called mortar. The main arch of the bridge stretches 18 feet (5.5 meters) across the brook. It stands about 6 feet (1.8 meters) above the water.
The stone part of the bridge is about 20 feet (6.1 meters) long. Parts of the original stone arch are now covered. This is because the bridge was made wider over time. Steel pipes, called culverts, were added to both sides.
Today, the bridge has a gravel base and a paved road on top. Its total width, including the newer parts, is about 35 feet (10.7 meters).
The Builder: James Otis Follett
The Simpsonville Bridge was built by a local mason named James Otis Follett. A mason is a skilled worker who builds things with stone or brick. James Follett built more than 40 bridges in Townshend and nearby towns.
He was known for building bridges out of stone. This was special because, at that time, most new bridges were being made from iron and steel. Out of 13 bridges Follett built in Townshend, only six were still standing in 1977. The Simpsonville Bridge was one of them.
This bridge was likely one of the last projects James Follett worked on. He passed away in 1911, just a couple of years after this bridge was finished. His work shows how important stone building was in the past.
Images for kids
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From upstream, in 2016
