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York
County, Maine
(WGN
19-16-a) (WGCB ME-16-a): (1944; resigned 1961; painted 1964;
repainted 1969 and 1979; repaired 2001) A single-span Kingpost truss
footbridge 28' over Goose Fair Brook. Located: In Old Orchard
Beach Minor Civil Division in Ocean Park, Maine, at Guild Park off Temple
Avenue. Directions: From Saco, Maine take US 1 north to Ocean
Park Road (SR 5) on the right, go 1.3 miles to Temple Avenue on the right,
follow 0.8 mile to Guild Park and the bridge on the left. Dedicated
on August 4, 1944, as a War Memorial to the men and women of the United
States Armed Forces who had made the ultimate sacrifice during World War
II. It is the oldest authentic covered footbridge in Maine, as well
as New England. At 26' 3" it is the shortest and at 6' 4" wide the
narrowest authentic covered footbridge in Maine. It is also the only
Kingpost truss covered bridge remaining in Maine. The bridge was
resigned in 1961. In 1964 it was painted and subsequently repainted
in 1969 and 1979. In early 2001 it was hit by a car. Repairs
were made shortly thereafter. The structure is supported by a half
height modified Kingpost truss set on poured concrete abutments.
The truss is boxed in. Vertical boarding covers the exterior and
interior sides. The portals are covered with vertical tongue and
groove boarding open under the eaves for ventilation. The floor has
crosswise planking and the dark weathered wood shingle covered roof and
portals project beyond the entrances providing additional weather protection
for the interior. The trim boards on the portals and the exposed
truss under the eaves are painted white with the remaining surfaces, inside
and out, painted sage green. Also known as
the Guild Park Covered Footbridge and the War Memorial Covered
Footbridge. (Sep 2007) |
