Swanzey, NH 03446
603.357.6624
Info@BridgesInn.com
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27 Main Street Swanzey, NH 03446 603.357.6624 Info@BridgesInn.com |
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100 Yards from the front door of The Bridges Inn at the 1792 Whitcomb House you will find the 1832 West Swanzey "Thompson Bridge" : considered to be one of New Hampshire's most beautiful. Painted red with white trim, this "Town Lattice" truss once had two sidewalks, but now has only one. It has 2 spans across the Ashuelot River with a length of 155 feet. Originally built in 1832 at a cost of $523.27 by Zodoc Taft. |
| The Ashuelot covered bridge, located just south of Swanzey in Winchester, is considered by local historians to be one of New Hampshire's most elaborate covered bridges. The original purpose of the bridge was to transport wood across the river for use by the Ashuelot Railroad. The railroad had a station in the village of Ashuelot. This structure has also been called the Village Bridge or Village Station Bridge. Some sources credit Nicholas Powers as the builder. The Ashuelot Bridge is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. |  |
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The Carlton Bridge is one of the oldest in New Hampshire, although its
exact date of construction is not known (due to the loss of town records). It crosses the South Branch of the
Ashuelot River, connecting Swanzey Center and East Swanzey.
The bridge was modified again in 1988 placing steel supports to stabilize the structure, and completely reconstructed in 1996 at a cost of $414,000 ($83,000 paid by the town). Directions: One mile south of Swanzey Center on NH route #32. Keep an eye out for a "Covered Bridge" sign. Take a left on Carlton Road. The bridge is only a few hundred feet up the road. |
| The Coombs Bridge, located just south of Swanzey in Winchester, was named after its original builder and owner, Anthony Coombs. The Coombs Bridge once played an important role in both the social and commercial development of the area. Although it is not a necessary transportation link today, it is still convenient to students and tourists near N.H. Route 10. Extensive repairs were made by the town in 1964 and the bridge was reopened the same year. The bridge was rehabilitated in 1971 at a cost of $13,340. Today, the bridge is in need of major repairs. In 1984, state officials recommended bypassing the bridge using existing town roads. Such a bypass would require significant improvements to local gravel roads in both Winchester and Swanzey and would result in a considerable detour for residents of this section of both communities. The Coombs Bridge is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. |  |
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The Cresson Bridge, also known as Sawyer's Crossing Bridge, is considered Swanzey's most famous covered bridge. It is a 2 span, "Town Lattice" bridge of 159 foot length and 17 foot width. It has a center pier, spans the Ashuelot River, and was built in 1859 at a cost of $1,735.64. To commemorate the bridge's completion, an all-night dance was held for the residents of Swanzey. According to Suzanne Bergeron Whittemore's In The Shadow Of Monadnock,"The bridge was lighted by lanterns while musicians set up at one end of the bridge, and dancers arrived with baskets of food. Stepping lively to quadrilles, reels and contras, the dancers carried on until dawn."
Originally built in 1771, it served Swanzey for 88 years before having minor renovations in 1859. The bridge underwent major renovations in 1996. It is named for an early settler, Thomas Cresson. A favorite subject for artists and photographers, Arthur Godfrey used the bridge as a publicity tie-in for the Christmas carton of Chesterfield cigarettes. Directions: From Keene, south on NH Rt. 10. just before crossing into Swanzey on your left take Matthews Road. Follow Matthews Rd. to the end, bridge is on left. From Swanzey Center, take Sawyer's Crossing west to the bridge. |
| Slate
Slate Bridge is actually located in the small village of Westport (part of Swanzey township). Town records are missing, so the exact year of construction is unknown, but it's circa 1835. In 1842, William Wheelock was halfway across the 142 foot 3 inch span with his team of four oxen when the bridge collapsed into the river. The matter was referred to a lawyer in Keene, but there were no casualties.
Tolls were collected on this bridge until 1842 (at which point it became free to cross). The following tolls were collected:
The bridge was replaced in 1862 with a Town Lattice-style bridge using iron turnbuckle rods. During the summer of 1975, extensive repairs were made by the New Hampshire Department of Public Works and Highways, and the bridge was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. On March 8, 2003, the slate bridge was destroyed by arson. The current bridge was rebuilt in 2001 at a cost of $900,000 from funds raised by the Slate Covered Bridge Committee. |
Slate Bridge (pre-1993)
Slate Bridge (current) |
