The Keating's Tour New England

 

Part I

Hi Folks,

Liz and I went on another covered bridge/train trip to New England. We left on September 15, arriving in White River Junction, Vt.

On the sixteenth. we rode the Green Mountain Railroad "White River Flyer" to Thetford,VT, stopping at the Montshire Museum of Science to see the traveling Smithsonian Covered Bridge exhibit(see scans of station and antique steam engine).

While we were at the Museum we walked on one of trails and I took a picture of a lovely stone bridge.

On September 17 we went covered bridging in the Montpelier area. All of the pictures were taken by me with my new digital camera except the Newell, Station, and Moseley Bridges. These were taken by Liz.

At the end of day, we stopped at the Quechee Gorge state park. I took a picture of the gorge from the bridge and the butterly picture in the gorge itself. I used more of my pictures than Liz's because I have to scan hers individually(she uses a film camera).

Liz is very happy because she has now visited every covered bridge in Vermont.

Tom

 

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Part II

Hi Folks,

I overlooked a better picture of the antique steam engine at White River Junction--so here it is, taken by me on September 15.

On September 18, we left White River Junction for North Conway, NH. On the way we visitedthe Packard Hill, Meriden/Mill, Durgin and Whittier covered bridges.

There are three pictures of the Durgin Bridge, one with Liz, one with me and a dog and One of the front entrance. I walked across Durgin and the dog came out to check me out. So I walked back across the bridge and was standing about where I am in the picture, when the dog swam across the Cold river, sniffed me up and down and then walked back across the bridge!

While we were at the Whittier Bridge, a New Hampshire DOT truck pulled up and two guys got out and walked the bridge. One went underneath and looked at the abutments and wooden supports. There are also three pictures of the Whittier. There was some damage to the roof support timbers.

We then drove to the Bartlett bridge/gift shop. We visited this bridge last year (picture posted on this website last year), but the gift shop was closed. So this time Liz was able to purchase some covered bridge items.

On September 19 we rode the Conway Scenic RR "Notch Train." We boarded the train at the North Conway station with Liz in front. The half way point of the Crawford Notch trip was the Crawford Depot one picture by Liz, one by a friendly lady passenger. We purchased a box lunch and would recommend it to anyone riding this trip.

Tom

 

 

 

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Part III

Hi Folks,

On September 20, we spent the day visiting covered bridges in Maine.

We visited Sunday River, Bennett, Lovejoy, Hemlock and Babb bridges.

On our way to Maine, we stopped at a NH Welcome Center. The fellow manning the Center was Helpful and friendly. He gave us a "Covered Bridges of the White Mountains" pamphlet. As it turned out, we had already seen all of the bridges listed. I am going to donate the pamphlet to our local library.

The Hemlock Bridge and one of the Sunday River Bridge pictures are by me, the rest are by Liz.

We took a scenic, circular route, starting at Sunday River, and ending at the Babb Bridge. We returned to our motel in North Conway.

Tom

Bridges of Cumberland County, Maine:

• Babb Bridge: Queen post truss, built in 1976, 79' long over the Presumpscott River.
• Bennett Bridge: Paddleford truss, built in 1901, 100' over the Magalloway River.
• Hemlock Bridge: Paddleford & arch truss, built in 1857 over the Saco River. (old channel)
• Lovejoy Bridge: Paddleford truss, built in 1867, 80' long over the Ellis River.
• Sunday River Bridge: Paddleford truss, built in 1870, 100' over the Sunday River.

 

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Part IV

Hi Folks

On September 21 we left North Conway, NH for Concord, NH. We stopped at Clark's Trading Post (using directions in "New England's Covered Bridges" by Benjamin and June Evans). Liz took a picture of Clark's CB and I took a picture of the "Lombard Steam Log Hauler." We arrived at our motel in Concord too early to check in, so we went in search of more covered bridges.

We visited Contoocock, the oldest RR covered bridge in the USA, located in Hopkinton. The bridge is being repaired by Barns and Bridges of New England. The fellow in charge was quite friendly. He let us walk through the bridge (which was full of equipment, various wooden pieces and other parts). His pickup truck has a covered bridge logo on the driver's door.

We then went to West Hopkinton to see the very attractive Rowell bridge (straight on picture by me).

From there we went to the Dalton, Waterloo and Bement bridges. The side view of Bement is by me. Except for the three pictures that I took, the rest of the pictures are by Liz.

If you are using the Evan's NE CB book, be advised the directions on p.136 (Bement ) are incorrect. You must go WEST on NH103 not east. This was the only mistake that we have encountered so far in their book. I have posted a complimentary review of their book on Amazon.com. If you are using the "New Hampshire Covered Bridges Map and Guide", be advised the map portion has the Bement and Henniker bridge switched, although the text portion is accurate.

The Cilleyville bridge is the first bridge of our journey on Sept. 22. Liz and I liked the large US flag.

Tom

 

 

 

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Part V

Hi Folks

On September 22, we visited Cilleyville, Corbin, Wright's RR, Pier RR, and County covered bridges. Liz was very happy, because she has now seen all the covered bridges in NH. We have also visited all the covered bridges in several other states. Only one of the NH pictures was taken by me; the side view of the Wright RR bridge, the balance by Liz.

Both the Wright and Pier RR bridges are Town lattice design(see inside Wright RR picture). The Pier RR bridge is in need of repair. The state of NH has agreed to spend $400,000 on repairs. However this money is contingent on the town of Newport putting up $100,000. For more info on the Pier Bridge project click on the Eagle Times connection below. According to the article, they have only come up with $30,000 so far.

Regarding the County bridge, the unnamed road (which becomes Duncan Rd) at the intersection of NH137 and NH123 now has a road sign; Norway.

On Saturday, the 23rd, we spent the day in Massachusetts visiting Sawyer Pond, C.H. Waterhous, Pumping Station, Bissell and Arthur Smith covered bridges. The straight picture of Arthur Smith is by me, the diagonal showing the truss, is by Liz. Sawyer Pond is a private bridge, built by the late Frank Sawyer, by himself from age 73-76. There were golf carts inside when we visited.

The Chester H. Waterhous bridge, in East Pepperell, is the only authentic, historic covered bridge in use on a public road in the state of Massachussets. The directions to Pumping Station looked complicated, so we stopped at the Franklin County Visitors Center in Greenfield (well marked). The fellow we spoke to was involved in the fund raising effort to preserve the bridge and gave us good directions. It is closed for repairs. We had to park and walk to the bridge as the road is blocked off. We talked to a lady gathering grapevine branches for crafts.

The Bissell bridge was easy to find. As for the Arthur Smith bridge, if you use the Evans book, be advised that there two intersections of MA 2 and MA 112. We were about to turn around and give up when we found it--under repair and fenced off.

On Sunday, the 24th, while eating breakfast at the Day's Inn, I struck up a conversation with Doug McQuinn and his wife, from New Brunswick, Canada, who invited me to come and see covered bridges there. They pointed out that the longest covered bridge in the world is in Hartland, NB. I said that Liz and I did plan to visit there at some point in the future.

Liz and I were finished covered bridging for this trip. We spent the day in Concord. We visited the New Hampshire state museum and then a bookfair, where Liz purchased "Covered Bridges Can Talk" by Lewis A. Harlow. This book has black and white pictures of covered bridges with humorous captions. It was published in 1963, and some of the bridges pictured no longer exist.

The final picture (taken by me on 10-13) is my street after the "October Surprise" snowstorm. I know it's not covered bridge related, but it did knock out power to me and about 400,000 customers in western NY state. The local weather spokesman said it was the earliest recorded snowstorm since the Buffalo office started records--137 years ago. We were without power for 4 days. Some people were without for 17 or 18 days. Utility crews came from as far away as Missouri, North Carolina and New Brunswick, Canada to restore power. Over 100,000 trees were damaged.

That's the end of this travelogue. Next year we are taking a river cruise trip in Germany and hope to find a couple of cbs there.

Tom

For the Eagle Times Story about the Pier Bridge,click here: http://www.eagletimes.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=4&ArticleID=1953&TM=83141.38