Sunday Stills: Bridges

Bridge: “A structure spanning and providing passage over a gap.”

Mill Bridge, Tunbridge, Vermont

Quintessential Vermont landscape includes old farmhouses, towering barns worn from years of harsh weather, and quaint covered bridges. With this week’s Sunday Stills challenge being bridges, I set out today from our farm in search of covered bridges.  I drove along one of Vermont’s most scenic routes, the way I send our bed and breakfast guests when they want to see a bit of Vermont’s history. Weaving through the valley along the river, I counted 6 bridges along my short journey.

Middle Bridge, Woodstock Village, Vermont

Vermont’s covered bridges have a romantic appeal, telling of days long past. Their trusses span the rivers below them, connecting us to the people and animals who have traversed their planks throughout history. The onlooker can’t help but feel captivated by the remembrance of a time when horses and buggies crossed beneath the covering of the bridge. Constructed between the years of 1820 and 1904, just over 100 covered bridges dot Vermont’s landscape. The roofs protect the beams and trusses from the harsh New England weather, preserving the bridges for generations to come.

The Quechee Bridge, Quechee, Vermont

Vermont cherishes their covered bridges. Preservation of their structures has become a priority in rural communities where the bridges stand as a focal point and landmark. When tropical storm Irene devastated Vermont in August of 2011, many of the state’s bridges were swept away as the calm rivers, which they span, turned to turbulent waterways. That day, the waters in the Ottauquechee River rose rapidly, sweeping away much of the Quechee Bridge. Just a couple of weeks ago, the bridge reopened after being reconstructed. Vermonters turned out on a snowy day for the event and celebration, rejoicing that their bridge had been restored.

At The Covered Bridge Musuem in Bennington, Vermont, you can explore the construction and design of covered bridges, as well as art work dedicated to this piece of Vermont’s history. Tourist to the state put photographing the bridges at the top of their favorite things to do while here. One of the most photographed bridges is the Taftsville Bridge in Woodstock, Vermont. This fall, I made a trip to Woodstock and found that even I could not resist the photo opportunity. Feeling a bit like a tourist, I stopped my car, hoped out with my camera and snapped a few quick shots of history. I hope that Vermont never loses its love of their covered bridges, and will always value preserving the past.

Taftsville Bridge, Woodstock, Vermont – Winter

Taftsville Bridge, Woodstock, Vermont – Autumn