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Orange
County, Vermont
(WGN
45-09-06) (WGCB VT-09-06): (c.
late 1800's; modified 1963; repaired and new roof 1997) A two-span
Haupt variant with Burr arch truss 127' over the Ompompanoosuc River.
Located: At the western edge of Thetford Center, Vermont on Tucker
Hill Road. Directions: From I-91, Exit 14, go west on SR 113
2.2 miles then left on Tucker Hill Road 0.2 mile to the bridge. The
only Haupt truss bridge in Vermont (as well as the Northeast) and one of
only three in the US. The Bunker Hill Covered Bridge (WGN
33-18-01) in North Carolina is one of the few other bridges in the
country that has a similar truss. In 1963, four steel beams were
added underneath to help it carry heavy traffic, the original stone abutments
were capped and a reinforced concrete pier was added mid span and its floor
was replaced with 2' by 8" planks placed on edge. On October 16,
1997, a dump truck attempted to drive through the bridge with its bed raised
damaging most of the roof beams. By December 16, 1997, the damaged
roof beams were replaced with hemlock timbers and the entire roof, rafters,
purlin, and steel covering were replaced. Dark weathered vertical
boarding covers the sides and portals with the entire east northeast portal
painted barn red. Barn red painted vertical boards also cover the
west southwest entrance, but not the portal, with both portals square cut
over the entrance. Its red painted steel roof and gables project
slightly beyond the entrances to provide some additional weather protection
to the interior. Also known as the Sayers Covered Bridge,
the Sayres Covered Bridge (after a nearby furniture mill owned by
the Sayres brothers) and the Tucker Hill Covered Bridge. It was
listed on the National Register of Historic Places on September 17, 1974.
(Sep 2004) |
