Covered Bridges on Two Wheels
A photographic journey to Vermont's Covered Bridges
Fairfax Bridge
 September 2009 |  September 2009 |
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 September 2009 |  September 2009 |
Current Status: Open
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Location: Fairfax, on Maple Street
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Crosses: Mill Brook
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GPS: 44.663597N, 73.010389W
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Built: 1865 Length: 56.57 feet
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Truss Design: Town lattice
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WGN*: VT-06-02 NRHP**: Yes
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* WGN: World Guide to Covered Bridges Number
**NRHP: Listed on National Register of Historic Places
This rather wide bridge is located over Mill Brook in the middle of the village of Fairfax. Other names for it have been Village Bridge (for its central location), Maple Street Bridge (for the road it is on) and Mill Brook Bridge (for the water it crosses).
During the infamous Flood of 1927 the bridge was washed off its abutments, but survived intact. Accounts differ, but many believe that when it was placed back where it belonged, the portals were swapped. The end that originally pointed east is now pointing west and vice-versa. It remains a matter of debate in town, with people claiming that the bridge leaned after being replaced on its abutments, and thus it must have been installed backwards. Nevermind the fact that it was just washed downstream and probably stressed, and maybe that's why it was now leaning.
As with many covered bridges, it has had repairs made to it over the years, but probably the most extensive work was carried out in 2002. A local resident drove an oversize truck into the bridge causing serious damage. Many, if not all, of the roof components needed to be replaced as well as some truss members. At the same time, the lean supposedly caused by the backwards re-installation of the bridge was corrected. Previous repairs included the "sistering" of some of the Town lattice members. This involves adding planking to the lattice to help bolster weakened members. Examples of this can be seen at the very left in the interior photo where some of the lattice is doubled up. This is a common alternative to replacing a board altogether, and a much easier solution.
Visiting the bridge:
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Maple Street is a paved, fairly quiet village way. There is a K-12 school at the top of the street that might generate traffic in the mornings and afternoons. But, I didn't see much traffic at all as I was there while school was in session. Even if you did end up inside the bridge with a vehicle approaching, you should be OK as this is one of the widest single-lane covered bridges in the state at 17 feet.
There is no adequate parking at the bridge itself, but by the school there is a wide three-way intersection with a pull-off to the right. From there it is a short walk back down to the bridge.
On the western side of the bridge, right where my motorcycle is parked in the background photo, there is a recreation trail that leads past the remains of a toll house and harness shop on the shore of the Lamoille River. The toll house was for a covered bridge that existed there until destroyed by a freshet in 1832.