Power House Covered Bridge Rebuild: 2001-2002
[WGN 45-08-02]
Power House Bridge Rehabilitation Index
- Power House Bridge Rebuild Begins: February 2002
- Power House Bridge Rebuild Continues: March 2002
- Power House Bridge Rebuild Continues: April 2002
- Power House Bridge Rebuild Continues: May 2002
- Power House Bridge Rebuild Continues: June 2002
- Power House Bridge Ribbon Cutting Ceremony: June 29, 2002
- Power House Bridge: A Short History
The Power House Covered Bridge Update: February 2002
"Snow Breaking" Held at the Johnson Covered Bridge
February 19, 2002 - At eight-o-clock Tuesday morning with the thermometer showing minus one degree Fahrenheit, several Johnson residents assembled for a ground-breaking ceremony anticipating the construction of the new Power House Bridge.
However, the ground being as hard as it is in February, a "Snow Breaking" had to serve.
The Power House Covered Bridge Committee had planned that volunteers from the town were to construct the bridge under the direction of the building contractor, however this was found to be impractical due to the restraints of the contractor's insurance, said Johnson resident Mark Patch.
Except for the Southern Yellow Pine that will be used for the trusses, the community has provided local hemlock and spruce timber for the rest of the project, Patch said. Volunteers from the community will be able to do some token work on the bridge, he said.
Construction will begin when the weather moderates.
Photo by Joe Nelson
February 19, 2002
Assembled for the "Snow Breaking" ceremony at the Power House Bridge are, from left to right: Mark Woodward, State Representative for Johnson/Eden; Eric Osgood, Selectboard chair; Brad Reed, Selectman; Chris Parker, Trustee Chair; Franklin Hooper, Selectman; Blain Deslisle, Selectman/Road Commissioner.
The Power House Covered Bridge Update: March 2002
Work Begins on the Johnson Covered Bridge
March 27, 2002 - Eric Osgood, Town of Johnson Selectboard Chair, announced on Friday, March 22, that work has begun at the Power House Bridge site. The Contractor, Blow and Cote of Morrisville put temporary wooden safety rails on the existing bridge deck and brought in building material and equipment. The bridge deck remains blocked to traffic.
Interested citizen Phil Thompson reported on March 26 that work was underway and that "They have one beam mortised and another beam attached to it."
Photo by Joe Nelson
March 27, 2002
Work on the new Power House Bridge delayed by late March snowfall.
The Power House Covered Bridge Update: April 2002
April 2, 2002 - On this bright and sunny morning the first truss for the new Power House Bridge is rapidly coming together. Blow and Cote craftsmen Roland Blais, Nathan Cote, and David Morrill are shaping and fitting the huge southern pine timbers like the wooden bridge builders they are. After working on the Pulp Mill Bridge in Bennington, the Irasburg Bridge, the Gates Farm Bridge in Cambridge, and the Fuller Bridge in Montgomery, all using complex trusses, the simple Power House queen post truss must be a piece of cake to them.
Photo by Joe Nelson
April 2, 2002
Roland Blais shapes the end of a queen post brace.
Photo by Joe Nelson
April 2, 2002
The queen posts and end-posts are being fitted into the plate or rafter beam. The notches in the end-post in the foreground will receive the bottom chord.
Photo by Joe Nelson
April 2, 2002
Designed by Phil Pierce, this edition of the Power House Bridge is unlikely to succumb to snow load.
Photo by Joe Nelson
April 2, 2002
The tenon on this post will fit into the mortise in the rafter beam.
First of two Trusses Nearly Complete for the Johnson Covered Bridge
April 12, 2002 - Another bright and sunny day brings the bridge closer to the big day. With the first truss nearly complete, the second truss should be completed in another week, one of the team said.
Photo by Joe Nelson
April 12, 2002
A few taps with the beetle by Nathan Cote and the queenpost brace drops into its seat in the bottom chord timber.
Photo by Joe Nelson
April 12, 2002
An assembled tension splice in one of the two bottom-chord timbers. The light-colored square in the center of the splice is the end of a hardwood shear key.
Photo by Joe Nelson
April 12, 2002
The splice in the second timber in of the bottom chord is prepared for assembly.
Photo by Joe Nelson
April 12, 2002
This post will help support the rafter beam. The pocket in the side will receive the end of an upper brace.
First Truss Completed for the Johnson Covered Bridge, Construction Begun on the Second
April 19, 2002 - The first of the two queenpost trusses has been completed and is standing. Work has begun on the components for the second truss.
Photo by Joe Nelson
April 19, 2002
The first of the two trusses is complete and standing. The pattern in the bracing is reminiscent of the original bridge. An old friend is coming back.
Photo by Joe Nelson
April 19, 2002
Roland Blais is sculpting a tension splice in a timber for the bottom chord of the second truss using an electric chainsaw. I wonder if Roland has ever considered carving a bear?
The Power House Covered Bridge Update: May 2002
Second Truss Near Completion for the Johnson Covered Bridge, Work Begun on Floor
May 6, 2002 - A plastic tent is concealing the progress made in building the new Power House Bridge. The first truss stands ready for the move to the bridge abutments, the second truss needs only the siding nailers. New pads have been poured and are curing. Work has begun trimming the surviving self-supporting bridge-deck to fit the new construction.
Photo by Joe Nelson
May 6, 2002
Bridge-build progress concealed by plastic sheeting.
Photo by Joe Nelson
May 6, 2002
Second truss near completion.
Photo by Joe Nelson
May 6, 2002
The concrete pads that will receive the new trusses have been poured and are curing.
Photo by Joe Nelson
May 6, 2002
Roland Blais is trimming the bridge-deck in preparation for the placing of the trusses. David Morrill catches the pieces with a fishnet. Note the safety harnesses.
New Power House Bridge Trusses Placed over River
May 9, 2002 - Both queenpost trusses were moved with a back-hoe and a fork lift over the Gihon River and into position onto the newly cast pads flanking the existing self-supporting bridge floor.
Photo by Joe Nelson
May 9, 2002
The first of the two trusses is airborn and on its way.
Photo by Joe Nelson
May 9, 2002
The upstream truss is in position and being secured with cables.
Photo by Joe Nelson
May 9, 2002
The second truss is secured and clear of the ground.
Photo by Joe Nelson
May 9, 2002
The second truss is moved to the bridge deck, the back-hoe and fork lift moving slowly and in concert.
Photo by Joe Nelson
May 9, 2002
Roland Blais and David Morrill prepare the pads to receive the downstream truss.
Photo by Joe Nelson
May 9, 2002
The truss is dropped neatly into position as the two equipment operators work in unison.
Photo by Joe Nelson
May 9, 2002
Both trusses are in place, temporarily braced with chain and cable.
Photo by Joe Nelson
May 9, 2002
The new trusses viewed from downstream.
New Power House Bridge Construction Continues Between Rains
May 16, 2002 - The tie-beams are installed and the first of the 6"x8" knee-braces is in place. Installation of the diagonal braces, rafters and roof will soon follow. Construction has been slowed somewhat by the recent frequent showers.
Photo by Joe Nelson
May 16, 2002
The tie-beams are installed and the first of the 6"x8" knee-braces is in place.
Photo by Joe Nelson
May 16, 2002
Knee-brace detail. The mortices in the tie-beams will receive the ends of the diagonal braces.
New Power House Bridge Construction Continues
May 23, 2002 - This bright and sunny day finds most of the massive knee-braces in place and the cross-braces being fabricated and fitted.
Photo by Joe Nelson
May 23, 2002
Almost all of the knee-braces are installed.
Photo by Joe Nelson
May 23, 2002
Diagonal-brace tenon detail. These braces will be fitted into the mortices already cut into the tie-beams.
The Power House Covered Bridge Update: June 2002
June 3, 2002 - The diagonal braces are in place and the roof rafters with collar ties have been installed. The purlins for the new standing-seam metal roof will be next. From this point on the progress toward completion will be dramatic.
Photo by Joe Nelson
June 3, 2002
View of downstream side from Route 100C
Photo by Joe Nelson
June 3, 2002
View from School Street
Power House Bridge Ready For New Roofing
June 7, 2002 - The purlins for the new standing-seam metal roof are in place. Only the upstream fascia board is left undone. This, the roofing and the gable end sheathing will be completed when the scaffolding is erected on the upstream side.
Photo by Joe Nelson
June 3, 2002
View from Route 100C
Photo by Joe Nelson
June 3, 2002
View of downstream side from Route 100C
Impressive Progress as New Power House Bridge Construction Continues
June 21, 2002 - The new red standing seam roof is on, the siding is up. The bridge is ready for the finishing touches and blessing by the townspeople. Then, Saturday, June 29, 10 a.m., the ribbon cutting ceremony.
Photo by Joe Nelson
June 14, 2002
Photo by Joe Nelson
June 14, 2002
Photo by Joe Nelson
June 17, 2002
Photo by Joe Nelson
June 17, 2002
Community Work Day Held at Power House Bridge
June 22, 2002 - In spite of the rain and the morning mist, a small army of citizens converged on the new Power House Bridge. Lawn mowers, string trimmers, and chainsaws sang a chorus to a background of screeching power saws and pounding hammers.
With the grass trimmed and the brush cut the bridge site is a handsome centerpiece, a point of pride for residents and a welcome for visitors to Johnson. Photographers again have a clear view of the bridge from Route 100C on the downstream side.
Town carpenters framed the six windows and built and installed flower boxes in each. Green thumbs quickly filled the boxes with blooms. Everyone worked hard, including the kids, who had their chance to drive some nails.
The highpoint of the day came with the "Golden Nail" ceremony when the sign from the lost bridge was put in place high on the east gable-end. The sign is mounted on scraps of wood from the old bridge. Senator Susan Bartlett, Representative Mark Woodward, Selectboard Chair Eric Osgood and Selectman Howard Romero high on the ladders, did the honors.
An added feature to the bridge was installed by local photographer Howard Romero; an interior lighting system designed to illuminate the intricate upper upper roof structure at night. Another feature, left by Blow & Cote, is a wooden plaque, attesting to the pride the builders have in their work, a job well done.
Photo by Joe Nelson
June 22, 2002
Photo by Joe Nelson
June 22, 2002
Photo by Joe Nelson
June 22, 2002
Photo by Joe Nelson
June 22, 2002
Photo by Joe Nelson
June 22, 2002
Photo by Joe Nelson
June 22, 2002
Photo by Joe Nelson
June 22, 2002
Photo by Joe Nelson
June 22, 2002
Photo by Joe Nelson
June 22, 2002
Photo by Joe Nelson
June 22, 2002
Photo by Joe Nelson
June 22, 2002
Photo by Joe Nelson
June 22, 2002
Photo by Joe Nelson
June 22, 2002
Photo by Yvonne Osgood
June 22, 2002
Photo by Yvonne Osgood
June 22, 2002
The Big Day! The Ribbon Cutting Held
June 29, 2002 - The long planned Ribbon-cutting ceremony was held this rare Saturday morning in warm sunlight and with harp music by Heidi Soos. The community was there to see their covered bridge returned to them after its loss to snow-load one-year-and-a half ago (perhaps a record in covered bridge rebuilding). Tourists joined the townspeople to help celebrate, one from as far away as Calcutta, India.
The ribbon cutting ceremony began at 10 a.m. with some speeches. After the ribbon was cut, the local boy scouts bore the colors through the bridge followed by the Johnson Fire department's 1935 Reo leading a procession of old cars. The covered bridge was then closed for except for pedestrians.
The celebration continued in the village. At the Main Street Stage: Mutt & Jeff- local jazz, bluegrass duet; Spencer Lewis and the Power Duo-fiddle duet; Davy Jones-folk musician from California; Natterjack-Irish traditional and rock. At the School Street Stage: Mark Struhsacker and Tony Washburn- two members of Radio Rangers; Vermont Dance Collective- traditional, period dancing; Tammy Fletcher; and The Parsnips-fiddle group.
Photo by Joe Nelson
June 29, 2002
A rare, warm sunny morning blessed the ribbon cutting ceremony.
Photo by Joe Nelson
June 29, 2002
The authors of the new bridge: Marc Cote, Contractor (left), and Phil Pierce, P.E., Covered Bridge Engineering Consultant.
Photo by Joe Nelson
June 29, 2002
Johnson Selectboard Chair Eric Osgood opens the ceremony, Heidi Soos and her harp in the foreground.
Photo by Joe Nelson
June 29, 2002
Mark Woodward, Representative for Lamoille County at the State Legislature addresses the gathering.
Photo by Joe Nelson
June 29, 2002
State Senator for Lamoille County Susan Bartlett says a few words. Senator Bartlett was key in finding funds for the reconstruction.
Photo by Joe Nelson
June 29, 2002
The ribbon is cut!
Photo by Joe Nelson
June 29, 2002
California folk singer Davy Jones sings his covered bridge song, composed for the occasion.
Photo by Joe Nelson
June 29, 2002
The Johnson Fire Department's 1935 Reo is first to pass though the new bridge, as local boy scout troops line the guard rails.
