Wright's Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Wright's Bridge
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 Location in New Hampshire
Location in the United States
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| Location | Sugar River Trail over the Sugar River, Newport, New Hampshire |
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| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1906 |
| Architect | Boston & Maine Railroad |
| Architectural style | Town-Lattice Truss |
| NRHP reference No. | 75000135 |
| Added to NRHP | June 10, 1975 |
Wright's Bridge is a really old and cool covered bridge. You can find it in Newport, New Hampshire. It was built way back in 1906. This bridge was first used by the Boston and Maine Railroad. It helped trains cross the Sugar River.
Today, the bridge is part of the Sugar River Trail. This trail is used for many fun activities. People can walk, bike, or even snowmobile on it. Wright's Bridge became a special historic place in 1975. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
What Does Wright's Bridge Look Like?
Wright's Bridge is in a quiet, natural area. It crosses the Sugar River in western Newport. The bridge is about 1,200 feet (366 meters) west of Chandler Mill Road.
This bridge is a special type called a "Town double-lattice truss." It has a strong design with crisscrossing wooden beams. These beams make the bridge very sturdy. It also has extra support from laminated arches.
The bridge is 122 feet (37 meters) long. It has a small overhang of 6 feet (1.8 meters) on each end. The bridge sits on strong granite blocks. Its outside walls are made of vertical wooden boards. These boards go almost all the way down to the ground.
The openings at each end of the bridge are called portals. They have vertical boards on the sides. Horizontal boards are placed above the opening. The wooden parts of the bridge are held together in a few ways. They use wooden pegs and strong iron rods. Metal turnbuckles also help to keep everything tight.
The History of Wright's Bridge
The bridge is named after S. K. Wright. He sold the land for this part of the railroad in 1871. The first bridge was built soon after that. It was built by the Sugar River Railroad. This company originally built this section of the railway.
The Boston & Maine Railroad took over later. They built the current bridge in 1906. Trains used this line until 1954. Then, the Claremont & Concord Railway bought it. The last train ran to Newport in 1977. After that, the railway line was no longer used.
Wright's Bridge is one of only two railroad bridges left on this old line. The other one is called Pier Bridge. These bridges are important parts of history. They show how trains used to travel through New Hampshire.
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