Waterman Covered Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Waterman Covered Bridge
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1974 photo
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 Location in Vermont
Location in the United States
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| Location | Waterman Rd. over Waterman Creek, Johnson, Vermont |
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| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1868 |
| Built by | Mills, George S. |
| Architectural style | Queenpost trusses |
| NRHP reference No. | 74000235 |
| Added to NRHP | June 13, 1974 |
The Waterman Covered Bridge was a special old covered bridge located in Johnson, Vermont. It helped people cross Waterman Creek on Waterman Road. This bridge was built a long time ago, in 1868. It was one of only three covered bridges from the 1800s still standing in Johnson. In 1974, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places, which lists important historical sites. Sadly, the bridge fell down in January 1982.
About the Waterman Covered Bridge
The Waterman Covered Bridge was in a quiet, country part of southern Johnson. It carried Waterman Road over Waterman Creek. This bridge had two main parts, or "spans." The longer part used a special design called a queen post truss. A truss is a strong framework that supports the bridge.
The shorter part of the bridge was built with simple posts and beams. The bridge rested on stone and concrete supports called "abutments" at each end. A wooden support in the middle helped hold up both parts of the bridge.
Bridge Size and Look
The main part of the bridge was about 74 feet (23 meters) long. The smaller part was about 16 feet (5 meters) long. This made the whole bridge about 90 feet (27 meters) long in total. It was about 19 feet (6 meters) wide, but the road part was about 16 feet (5 meters) wide. Only one car could drive across it at a time.
The outside of the bridge was covered with wooden boards placed up and down. These boards also covered the inside of the openings where cars entered. On the sides, the boards did not go all the way to the roof. This left an open space along the top, letting in some light and air. The bridge's floor was made of wooden planks laid over strong steel beams.
History of the Bridge
The Waterman Covered Bridge was built in 1868 by a person named George S. Mills. It was one of the few covered bridges from the 19th century that still existed in Johnson.
Over the years, the bridge needed some repairs. In 1962, one of its stone supports was rebuilt using concrete. Later, in 1969, the bridge's floor was made stronger with steel beams. When the bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974, people knew it was getting old and worn out. Sadly, it collapsed just eight years later, in 1982.
