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Orange
County, Vermont
(WGN
45-09-08) (WGCB VT-09-08): (1883;
new roof 2002) A single-span multiple Kingpost truss 66' over the
First Branch of the White River. Located: South of Chelsea,
Vermont on Howe Lane. Directions: From jct. SR 113 and SR 110
in Chelsea, Vermont go south on SR 110 3.3 miles and immediately after
you pass a cemetery, make a right turn onto Howe Lane 0.2 mile to the bridge.
The bridge was named for the nearby Cilley family and was built at a cost
of $523.35. When built, its portals were skewed by seven degrees
thus it exhibits a slight camber. In the fall of 2002 a new standing-seam
steel roof was installed which included replacing several roof boards.
The truss is unusual in that the truss has an upper chord with the vertical
tension members extending slightly above the chord to support the roof
sill and the roof. Typically, if the truss has an upper chord, the
upper chord serves as the roof sill or, if there is no upper chord, as
is generally the case with Kingpost or Queenpost truss systems, the vertical
tension members extend upward to support the roof sill. Dark weathered,
double layered, vertical, eastern hemlock boarding covers the sides, portals
and weather panels. There are two adjoining vertical window openings
on the downstream side. The floor has lengthwise planking and its
silver painted steel roof and gables project beyond the entrances to provide
additional weather protection for the interior. There are guy wires
attached at the southeast end, which extend from under the eaves to a ground
anchor, which provide lateral stabilization for the structure. Also
known as the Lower Covered Bridge. It was listed on the National
Register of Historic Places on September 10, 1974. (Sep 2004) |
