Covered Bridges on Two Wheels
A photographic journey to Vermont's Covered Bridges
Bartonsville Bridge
Current Status: Open
Location: Rockingham, on Lower Bartonsville Road
Crosses: Williams River
GPS: 43.223870N, 72.536803W
Built: 2012 Length: 168 feet
Truss Design: Town lattice
WGN*: VT-13-11#2 NRHP**: not eligible
* WGN: World Guide to Covered Bridges Number
**NRHP: Listed on National Register of Historic Places
Rockingham is one of those towns in Vermont that encompasses a lot of land which has led to various villages and hamlets to coalesce within its borders - some of them more famous than others. Saxton's River and Bellows Falls are in the town of Rockingham as is the hamlet of Bartonsville which was little-known until August 28, 2011.
That all changed when flood waters from the Williams River, engorged by rainfall from Tropical Storm Irene claimed the Bartonsville Bridge which had stood since 1870. The video shot by local resident Susan Hammond was picked up by news services world-wide and illustrated just how much Vermonters care about their covered bridges and how we always vow to rebuild and recapture history as much as we can.
Within these pages I have tried to tell a little bit about each bridge without going into long detailed history. The loss of this bridge, even though I never got to see it personally, makes anything I could ever say about it seem inadequate. So instead, I am going to let the professionals handle it via the two videos below.
Visiting the bridge:
As I said before, I never got to see the original Bartonsville bridge, so I don't know how this one compares. I know it is longer, and it seems taller. Probably wider, too. It is just plain... substantial. Being new it makes perfect sense that it could be, but it is difficult to put into words the grandeur of this bridge. You need to experience it.
The Bartonsville Bridge is easily accessible via a paved road just off from Route 103.
Parking is not an issue as on either side of the bridge there are large areas to park. This spot draws not only covered bridge enthusiasts, but also railfans (those people who like trains). This is an awesome spot for them to capture photos of trains going by the bridge. So do be aware that those railroad tracks are active with trains running daily.
Also be on the lookout for bald eagles. When I was there, one flew over the bridge and downstream.