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Cheshire
County, New Hampshire
New Hampshire No.
7 (WGN 29-03-07) (WGCB NH-03-07): (1869; restored 1996)
A single-span Queenpost truss 67' 3" over the South Branch of the Ashuelot
River. Located: West of East Swanzey, New Hampshire on Carleton Road.
Directions: From Keene, New Hampshire take SR 101 east to right on
SR 12 to right on SR 32 then left on Carleton Road 0.3 mile to the bridge.
Town records indicate the original bridge at this site was constructed
in 1789, however, the exact date is unknown. The current bridge was built
in 1869 and according to local tradition, it was built by local barn
builders since the truss construction of the bridge is similar to that
used in barns. When it was built, a wagon fully loaded with hay was used
as a standard for the height and width of the opening. The bridge
was closed in June 1974 to await town appropriations for repairs, rebuilding,
or reconstruction. On Flag Day, June 14, 1975, as a part of the Swanzey
Bicentennial Commission program, the bridge was
painted by residents of the town. The Carleton Bridge was the smallest
of the four covered bridges to be painted by the townspeople and was completed
in five hours time. The bridge was restored in 1996 at a cost of $487,000. Also known as the Carlton Covered Bridge and the Whitcomb Covered Bridge. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places June 10, 1975. (Sep 2003) |
