Spaulding Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Spaulding Bridge
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 Location in Vermont
Location in the United States
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| Location | Mill St., Cavendish, Vermont |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1905 |
| Built by | Norton, Henry |
| Architectural style | Parker pony truss |
| MPS | Metal Truss, Masonry, and Concrete Bridges in Vermont MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 05001522 |
| Added to NRHP | January 11, 2006 |
The Spaulding Bridge is a special old bridge in Cavendish, Vermont. It carries Mill Street over the Black River. This bridge was built way back in 1905. It's a type of bridge called a pony truss bridge.
What makes it so special? It's one of the very few metal truss bridges left in Vermont from before 1905. Back then, states didn't help much with building bridges, and there weren't standard designs. This means the Spaulding Bridge shows how bridges were built a long time ago. Because it's so important to history, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2006.
Contents
What is the Spaulding Bridge Like?
The Spaulding Bridge is located just south of the main part of Cavendish village. It helps Mill Street connect to areas south of the village.
How Big is the Bridge?
This bridge is a single-span Parker pony truss. This means it has one main section that crosses the river. It is about 98 feet 6 inches (about 30 meters) long. The bridge is also about 16 feet 8 inches (about 5.1 meters) wide.
What is a Pony Truss Bridge?
A "pony truss" bridge is a type of bridge where the main support structure, called a "truss," is on the sides. These trusses are not tall enough to go over the top of the road. Instead, they act like strong fences along the sides of the bridge. This design helps the bridge hold up weight.
How is it Built?
The Spaulding Bridge is made from strong metal pieces. These include I-beams, which look like the letter "I" when you look at their end. It also uses flat metal plates and flanges, which are parts that stick out. All these pieces are connected using pins, like big metal bolts.
The bridge rests on stone supports called abutments. These stone supports have been covered with concrete to make them even stronger. There's also a sidewalk on one side of the bridge. It's held up by special supports called "outriggers" that stick out from the main bridge structure.
History of the Spaulding Bridge
The town of Cavendish had this bridge built in 1905. A builder named Henry Norton constructed it. The bridge was named to honor Gilbert and Olive Spaulding.
Why is its Construction Special?
The Spaulding Bridge is one of only a few "pin-connected" truss bridges still around in Vermont. In this type of construction, large metal pins connect the different parts of the truss. This method was already becoming old-fashioned when the Spaulding Bridge was built. Newer bridges were starting to use "field riveting," where metal pieces were joined together with hot rivets right at the building site.
Bridge Restoration
Even though it's an old bridge, it's still used today. The Spaulding Bridge had a big repair job in 2005. This helped make sure it stays strong and safe for many more years.
