Covered Bridges on Two Wheels
A photographic journey to Vermont's Covered Bridges
Bests Bridge
The Bests Bridge was named for the family who lived adjacent to it, although it has also been known as the Swallows Bridge for A.W. Swallows, its builder.
The bridge was featured in a memoir written by long-time resident Mary Beardsley Fenn and appearing in Vermont Life magazine. In the story, the late Mrs. Fenn describes how the six Best girls would often decorate the bridge with flowers, especially for weddings and funerals and at the bridge held their own funerals for animals they had found.
Current Status: Open
Location: West Windsor, on Churchill Road
Crosses: Mill Brook
GPS: 43.455110N, 72.516470W
Built: 1889 Length: 37 feet
Truss Design: Tied arch
WGN*: VT-14-10 NRHP**: Yes
* WGN: World Guide to Covered Bridges Number
**NRHP: Listed on National Register of Historic Places
One of only 3 bridges in the state with this truss design, it was originally constructed with the arches consisting of only 5 laminates of planking. In 1991, it was refurbished and another two layers of planking added for more strength. Unlike most other covered bridges where the covering is somehow built upon and supported by the trusses, in the case of this (and sister Bowers Bridge) the covering is a simple post-and-beam shed resting upon the deck of the bridge.
Visiting the bridge:
While the bridge is not far from a main road (Route 44), it can be easy to miss due to its size and grey coloring.
The road it is on it not paved, but you only have to travel a short distance on it. There is no official parking at the bridge, but there are a couple of field access roads that branch out from the road on the south side of the bridge, allowing you temporary parking.
Traffic on this road is pretty much non-existent, allowing you to cross on foot with little worry.