|
Coos
County, New Hampshire
New Hampshire No.
37 (WGN 29-04-05) (WGCB NH-04-05): (1862; restored, arches added
and center span removed c. 1890; rehabilitated 1954 and arches removed
and center span restored; underside repaired 1983; new roof built 1982)
A two-span, Paddleford truss, 134' 1" over the Upper Ammonoosuc River. Located:
Northwest of SR 110 at Stark, New Hampshire. Directions: From
jct. US 3 and SR 110 in Groveton, New Hampshire, go east 7 miles on SR
110 then left less than .01 mile on North Stark Road to Stark, New Hampshire
then left on North Road to the bridge. It was originally built as
a simple Paddleford truss with a center pier. However, during
the 1890s, high water removed the center pier and the bridge was washed
downstream. It was recovered and set on new stone piers and
arches were added to strengthen the span and the center pier was removed.
The bridge failed in the 1940s and in 1954 was rehabilitated by removing
the arches, adding steel, and building a center pier. During the
1950s, the people of Stark voted to replace the bridge with a new steel
bridge but the outcry from artists and covered bridge enthusiasts was so
great that instead, with the aid of the state, the covered bridge was restored.
The state repaired the underside of the bridge in 1983 at a cost of $35,500
and a new roof was built in the summer/fall of 1982 at a cost of $18,750.
It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places December 1, 1980.
(Oct 2003) |
