Poland Covered Bridge
| Poland Covered Bridge | |
|---|---|
 Bridge in U.S. state of Vermont | |
| Carries | Automobile |
| Crosses | Lamoille River |
| Locale | Cambridge, Vermont |
| Maintained by | Town of Cambridge |
| ID number | VT-08-02 |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Covered, Burr arch |
| Material | Wood |
| Total length | 152.9 ft (46.60 m) |
| Width | 15.7 ft (4.79 m) |
| Number of spans | 1 |
| Load limit | 3 tons |
| Clearance above | 11.5 ft (3.51 m) |
| History | |
| Constructed by | George W. Holmes |
| Construction end |
1887 |
|
Bridge site in U.S. state of Vermont | |
  | |
| Coordinates | 44°39′04″N 72°48′52″W / 44.65111°N 72.81444°WCoordinates: 44°39′04″N 72°48′52″W / 44.65111°N 72.81444°W |
| Area | 1 acre (0.4 ha) |
| NRHP Reference # | 74000230[1] |
| Added to NRHP | October 9, 1974 |
The Poland Covered Bridge, also known as the Junction Covered Bridge[2] or the Cambridge Junction Covered Bridge[n 1] is a covered bridge that crosses the Lamoille River off State Route 15 in Cambridge, Vermont. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.[1] The bridge is of Burr arch design, built by George W. Holmes.
Name
The bridge was named for a local official, Judge Poland, and was a controversial issue in 1888:
- "Judge Poland has caused the Town of Cambridge to be inflicted with a bridge and a road at an expense of from $6,000-$10,000 which as shown will be of no material benefit to anyone but himself. It will be known in the future as “Poland’s Bridge” except to the taxpayers of Cambridge who will christen it “The Bridge of Sighs.” " –News & Citizen, 1888[3]
Poland did not live to use the bridge, dying in his hayfield the following July.
Recent history
Deterioration over time introduced a lean to the bridge, but in 1995 a vehicle struck one of the king posts which straightened out the lean, but caused the support system to start failing. Reconstruction on the bridge began in 2003 by Alpine Construction and it was reopened on July 4, 2004.[4][5] The project was supported by the National Historic Bridge Program which provided $1 million to preserving the bridge [6] It is interesting to note that the bridge now has short "tire rails" on each side of the traveled lane to prevent vehicles from striking the sides again. At last visit, it appears they are working, as they show evidence of having been struck.
Notes
- ↑ As stated on the sign affixed to the bridge, and State of Vermont Historical marker
References
- 1 2 Staff (2010-07-09). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.
- ↑ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Poland Covered Bridge
- ↑ News & Citizen, Morrisville, VT, 1888.
- ↑ Barna, Ed. Covered Bridges of Vermont. The Countryman Press, 1996. ISBN 0-88150-373-8
- ↑ Nelson, Joe. "Cambridge Junction Covered Bridge Opened". Vermont Covered Bridge Society Archives Website. 2009-07-05.
- ↑ Marsh, Roberta. Cambridge Historical Society