Slate Covered Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Slate Covered Bridge
|
|
The 1862 bridge, in 1970
|
|
 Location in New Hampshire
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | Westport Village Road over the Ashuelot River, Westport, New Hampshire |
|---|---|
| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1862 |
| Architectural style | Town lattice truss |
| NRHP reference No. | 78000212 |
| Added to NRHP | November 14, 1978 |
The Slate Covered Bridge is a special wooden bridge in Swanzey, New Hampshire. It helps Westport Village Road cross over the Ashuelot River. The bridge you see today was built in 2001. It replaced an older bridge from 1862 that was sadly destroyed in a fire in 1993. The original 1862 bridge was very important. It was even listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.
About the Slate Covered Bridge
The Slate Covered Bridge is in the southwestern part of Swanzey. It carries Westport Village Road, which used to be part of New Hampshire Route 10. The bridge goes over the Ashuelot River, running mostly north and south.
A Look at the Bridge
The bridge built in 2001 is a copy of the original 1862 bridge. The old bridge was a single span bridge. It used a special design called a Town lattice truss. This design uses many crisscrossing wooden beams. The bridge was about 122 feet (37 meters) long. Its roadway was about 17 feet (5 meters) wide.
The bridge got its name from a family called Slate. They lived nearby when the first bridge was built. The original bridge had strong supports made of split granite. It also had a tin roof to protect the wood. Its sides were fully covered. Over the years, the old bridge had many repairs and parts replaced.
History of the Bridge
The first Slate Covered Bridge was built in 1862. It was one of the few covered bridges from the 1800s still standing in New Hampshire. Because it was so old and special, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. This list helps protect important historical places.
Sadly, the 1862 bridge was destroyed in a fire in 1993. But the community wanted to keep its history alive. So, a new bridge was built in 2001. This new bridge looks just like the old one. It helps people remember the original Slate Covered Bridge.
.jpg)
