Watson Settlement Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Watson Settlement Bridge
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | Littleton, Maine |
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| Area | 0.3 acres (0.12 ha) |
| Built | 1911 |
| Architectural style | Howe truss System |
| NRHP reference No. | 70000039 |
| Added to NRHP | February 16, 1970 |
The Watson Settlement Bridge is a really old and special covered bridge in a place called eastern Littleton, Maine, United States. It was built a long time ago, in 1911, which makes it one of the newer covered bridges still standing in Maine! Even though it used to be a road for cars and trucks (called Framingham Road) over the Meduxnekeag River, it's not used for traffic anymore. Now, cars use a newer bridge right next to it. This historic bridge was added to a special list called the National Register of Historic Places in 1970 because it's so important.
What Makes the Watson Settlement Bridge Special?
The Watson Settlement Bridge is found in the southeastern part of Littleton, which is a quiet, rural area in Aroostook County. The Meduxnekeag River flows nearby, heading north from Houlton before turning east and crossing into New Brunswick, Canada! The road that the bridge used to carry, Framingham Road, now crosses the river on a modern bridge just south of the old covered bridge.
How the Bridge Was Built
The covered bridge is about 150 feet (46 m) long. It has two main sections that rest on strong stone supports at each end and one in the middle. The bottom parts of these supports are made of rough stone that has been made even stronger with concrete. The top part of these supports, about 5-foot (1.5 m) tall, is made of timber (wood) frames.
The bridge itself is about 20 feet (6.1 m) wide and about the same height. Inside, there's enough room for vehicles that are up to 13 feet 2 inches (4.01 m) tall and 18 feet (5.5 m) wide. The way the bridge is supported is called a Howe truss system. This means it uses a special pattern of wooden beams and metal rods to make it very strong. The outside of the bridge is covered with vertical wooden boards, and its roof is covered with shingles, just like a house.
A Look at Its History
It seems like the Watson Settlement Bridge was the first bridge ever built in this exact spot. Older maps of the area don't show any bridges here before it. It was built in 1911. There was even a legal disagreement between the county and the town about who should pay for building the roads leading up to the bridge. In the end, the town had to pay for those parts.
The bridge was closed to cars and trucks in 1984. That's when the new bridge right next to it was built, making it safer and easier for traffic to cross the river. Now, the old covered bridge stands as a historic landmark, showing us how bridges were built a long time ago.
