Power House Covered Bridge: 1870 - 2001
According to a History of the Town of Johnson, Vt. 1784 - 1907, compiled by the Oread Literary Club, a bridge was built over the Gihon River in 1870 to connect School Street with the road that became Route 100C. In those years the span was referred to as the School Street Bridge. In 1895 the incorporated village of Johnson constructed a water driven power house just above the bridge, and the span came to be known as the Power House Bridge.
The seventy-three-foot structure is a queenpost truss with massive timbers. The queenposts measure 12 by 10 inches, the diagonals 10 by 10 inches. The bridge was reconstructed in 1960, and again in 1993 because the bridge was developing a decided sag. The truss was renovated with much of the original timber replaced. Unfortunately, the bridge continued to sag, and was closed again in 1995 for further work.
The bridge, serving a popular shortcut to Johnson State College and the elementary school, has been in daily use, the traffic flow heavy at all hours.
Photo by Joe Nelson
1997
This photo was taken in the winter of 1997. Note the old Power House in the right background.
Photo by Joe Nelson
1993
This interior-view of the Power House Bridge was taken in the winter of 1993. Notice the lack of collar ties on the roof rafters. This was pointed out to me by Neil Daniels, covered bridge builder from Ascutney, Vt. (If collar ties were used the roof rafters would look like the letter "A".)
