The Coventry Covered Bridge - Original
Irasburg, VT
WGN Number: 45-10-02x
Photo by Joe Nelson © 1997
The Coventry Bridge, also known as the Black River Bridge, is one of only three spans in Vermont using the intricate Paddleford truss and the only one serving daily traffic. The selectmen must frequently replace the planks in the gable ends, as passing trucks just as frequently punch them out.
The Covered Spans of Yesteryear website reported that "Halloween arsonists burned this 116 year old bridge in 1997. Two Vermont men were found guilty of arson, fined and sentenced to perform community service." An article published in the Mountain Villager by Joe Nelson goes into detail about the event: Irasburg's Covered Bridge Lost to Arson.
The Coventry Covered Bridge Vital Statistics
| Town: | Irasburg |
| Location: | Coventry Road |
| Crossing: | Black River |
| Date: | 1879(?)/1881(?) |
| Builder: | John D. Colton |
| Truss Type: | Paddleford |
| Truss Length: | 87 feet |
| Other Names: | Lower / Orne |
| National Register of Historical Places Listing Date: | November 20, 1974 |
| Technical Data: | Some Notes on the Dimensions of the Original Bridge |
Credits: All pictures, information and descriptions are taken from Spanning Time Vermont's Covered Bridges by Joseph C. Nelson ©1997 and the World Guide to Covered Bridges - 2009 unless otherwise specified.
