Union Village Covered Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Union Village Covered Bridge
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 Location in Vermont
Location in the United States
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| Location | Over Ompompanoosuc River in Union Village, Thetford, Vermont |
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| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Architectural style | multiple Kingpost truss |
| NRHP reference No. | 74000248 |
| Added to NRHP | September 17, 1974 |
The Union Village Covered Bridge is a special old bridge in Thetford, Vermont. It carries Academy Road over the Ompompanoosuc River in a quiet area called Union Village. This bridge was built a long time ago, in 1867. It's famous for being the longest bridge of its kind from the 1800s in Vermont! Because it's so important, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.
Discovering the Union Village Bridge
This historic covered bridge is found in the southern part of Thetford, in a peaceful countryside spot. It crosses the Ompompanoosuc River, which flows south. The bridge is 113 feet (34 m) long, which is about the length of three school buses! It's also 19 feet (5.8 m) wide, but the part where cars drive is 15 feet (4.6 m) wide, just enough for one lane of traffic.
How the Bridge Was Built
The Union Village Covered Bridge uses a special design called a "multiple kingpost truss." Imagine a series of triangles connected together – that's what a truss is! This design helps make the bridge very strong and stable. The bridge rests on its original stone supports, which have been made even stronger with concrete over the years.
The outside of the bridge is covered with vertical wooden boards, like siding on a house. You'll also see square window openings on the sides. The roof is made of metal, which helps protect the wooden parts of the bridge from rain and snow.
A Look at Its History
The Union Village Covered Bridge was built in 1867. It's one of only two covered bridges from the 1800s that are still standing in Thetford today. The other one is the Thetford Center Covered Bridge.
Over the years, the Union Village Bridge has been well-cared for. It had a big repair project between 2002 and 2003 to keep it safe and strong for many more years. It's still known as the longest multiple kingpost truss bridge in Vermont, making it a truly unique and important landmark!
