Whittier Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Whittier Bridge
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The bridge in 1970
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 Location in New Hampshire
Location in the United States
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| Location | Old NH 25 (Nudd St. and Covered Bridge Rd.), Ossipee, New Hampshire |
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| Area | 0.1 acres (0.040 ha) |
| Built | 1870 |
| Architectural style | Paddleford Truss |
| NRHP reference No. | 84002558 |
| Added to NRHP | March 15, 1984 |
The Whittier Bridge is an old, historic wooden covered bridge located in Ossipee, New Hampshire. This bridge once carried an important road, New Hampshire Route 25, over the Bearcamp River. It was built way back in 1870.
The Whittier Bridge is special because it's one of the few covered bridges from the 1800s still standing in New Hampshire. It also uses a unique design called a Paddleford truss. Because of its history, the bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. It was closed to cars in 1989. In 2008, it was carefully moved for repairs. As of 2019, the bridge is resting near its original spot, waiting to be fully restored.
Contents
What Makes the Whittier Bridge Special?
The Whittier Bridge is found southwest of West Ossipee. It crosses the Bearcamp River, which flows from the White Mountains towards Ossipee Lake.
Bridge Design and Size
This bridge has one main section. It uses a special building style called a Paddleford truss. The bridge is about 137 feet 7 inches (41.94 m) long. Its clear span, the distance it covers without support, is about 114 feet (35 m).
The outside of the bridge is covered with vertical wooden boards. After its most recent updates, these boards only go partway up the sides. The ends of the bridge are angled, forming a gable shape. The bridge rests on strong foundations made of large granite blocks. These blocks are reinforced with concrete to make them even stronger.
A Long History of River Crossings
People have been crossing the Bearcamp River at this spot for a very long time. Records show bridges here as early as 1792. The road itself was first made in the 1770s by Captain John Dudley. This was even before the town of Ossipee was officially formed.
This bridge was known as the Great Bridge locally. It was a key part of a major east-west road in the area. Later, an important north-south road also joined it in West Ossipee.
Named After a Famous Poet
The bridge that stood here before the current one was washed away by floods in 1869. The current bridge was then rebuilt in 1870. It was built for Henry Banks, who owned the West Ossipee Hotel.
The bridge is named after a famous poet, John Greenleaf Whittier. He spent several summers at the hotel in the 1870s.
Changes Over Time
Like many old structures, the Whittier Bridge has been repaired and changed many times. Strong laminated arches were added in the late 1800s to make it sturdier. Steel supports were put in during the 1940s.
In 1983, the bridge had a big restoration project. During this work, the steel supports were removed. The full-height siding was also replaced with the shorter siding you see today.
Current Status of the Bridge
The Whittier Bridge was closed to cars again in 1989. In 2008, it was carefully lifted off its foundations. It was then placed on Nudd Road, near its original location. As of September 2019, it's not yet clear when the bridge will be fully repaired and put back in its place.
