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Bennington
County, Vermont
(WGN 45-02-04)
(WGCB VT-02-04): (c. 1840; extensive repairs 1952; new floor
c. 1985; restored 1991) A single-span Town lattice truss 88' across
the Walloomsac River. Located: NW of Bennington, Vermont off SR 67A on
Silk Road. Directions: From Bennington, Vermont go north on US 7 then left
at exit 1 on SR 7a to left on SR 67A 0.3 mile to left on Silk Road opposite
Bennington College to the bridge. Extensive repairs were made to the bridge
in 1952. Then circa 1985 a new floor of nail-laminated 2 by 8 inch
planks was installed. It was restored in 1991 by Gilbert Newbury at a cost
of $100,000.00, replacing some roof boards, installing new cedar shingles
on the roof that replaced the previous wood shingles, and repairing
the truss lattice members and the chords. Additional repairs were
made in 1993 to the roof members, new guardrails installed at the
portals and new signage, at a cost of $16,000.00. Concrete forms one abutment
and the other abutment of a combination of various kinds, sizes, and types
of dry stone capped with concrete. Horizontal boarding covers
the portals and to rail height on its sides exposing the Town lattice truss.
Vertical boarding covers the weather panels inside the entrances and horizontal
boarding covers the gables. The roof is covered with gray weathered
cedar shingles . The exterior of the bridge, including the exposed
part of the truss, is painted barn red and the weather panels inside the
entrances and the trim board outlining the entrances are painted white.
The bridge's original name was Robinson Covered Bridge. Also known
as the Silk Road Covered Bridge, the Locust Grove Covered Bridge
and the Ranch Covered Bridge. The Silk and Silk Road names
come from local residents and not from any silk manufacturing. It was listed
on the National Register of Historic Places on August 28, 1973. (Sep
2003) |
