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Merrimack
County, New Hampshire
New Hampshire No.
14 (WGN 29-07-03) (WGCB NH-07-03): (1854) A single
span Long truss 60' 6" long with a clear span of 53' 9" over the West Branch
of Warner River. Located: At the Southeast edge of the town
of Bradford, New Hampshire on Center Road. Directions: 0.3
mile west of jct. NH 114 at Bradford, New Hampshire on NH 103 then left
0.1 mile to the bridge. The original cost of the bridge was $500.
This is the third bridge at this location. Tradition has it that Colonel
Stephen H. Long, a Hopkinton, New Hampshire native and a member of the
U.S. Army Topographical Engineers, built the bridge entirely of hemlock.
No evidence was ever found to support or dispute the claim. Much of Colonel
Long's bridge building experience came from his employment with the Baltimore
and Ohio Railroad. While working for the B&O, he developed a
plan for a new covered bridge truss that became nationally known as the
Long truss and he patented his design in 1830. In 1835 and 1837 he patented
improvements to the design. In 1947 the bridge was rebuilt by the
town. It was was closed in March 1968 and repaired by the state in 1969
for $24,478.14. Vehicular damage to the bridge was repaired in 1987
by the state at a cost of $2,000. A cracked floor beam was repaired
by the town during the winter of 1989-1990. It was listed on the
National Register of Historic Places November 21, 1976. (Sep 2002) |
