Covered Bridges on Two Wheels
A photographic journey to Vermont's Covered Bridges
Martin Bridge
Current Status: Pedestrian Only
Location: Marshfield, off US Route 2
Crosses: Winooski River
GPS: 44.287532N, 72.408212W
Built: 1890 Length: 44 feet
Truss Design: Queenpost
WGN*: VT-12-06 NRHP**: Yes
* WGN: World Guide to Covered Bridges Number
**NRHP: Listed on National Register of Historic Places
Not all historic covered bridges in Vermont were built to handle horse-and-buggy (or later, automobile) traffic. The Martin Bridge in Marshfield was built in 1890 solely for agricultural use... to allow access to fields for the Martin Farm located across the road.
From 1924 into the 1970's, the farm was owned by the Orton family and during that period was known as the Orton Bridge. In 2003, the bridge and surrounding land was given to the Town of Marshfield by the next owner, Charles Thorndike of New Hampshire. The bridge then regained its original name.
The Martin Bridge is the only surviving agricultural bridge in Vermont. (One could argue that the Gates Farm Bridge is agricultural, but that was not its original purpose.) The design of the bridge gives clues to its intent as it is narrow and high to allow loaded hay wagons to pass through. It also retains a functioning gate to keep livestock from crossing the bridge. The Martin family most likely was well-off for the time because having a covered bridge privately built was an extravagance. A regular open-deck bridge would have sufficed.
The Martin Bridge was given to the town in lieu of school taxes owed. But the donation of the bridge may have also been due to the fact that by this time, rot on the lower chord ends was evident. The abutments had also shifted and the bridge was in danger of collapsing into the river. Once in town hands, an inspection showed approximately $100,000 worth of work that needed to be done. It was now up to the town to try to save it. So not only did the previous owner avoid having to pay his school taxes, he escaped having to sink money into the bridge.
In 2004, the bridge was removed from over the river and placed on blocks until a volunteer effort raised the funds needed for repairs. These were carried out, and the bridge returned to its original location in 2009. In 2011, only a couple months before my first visit to the bridge, Vermont experienced a higher-than-normal spring run-off which engorged waterways, including the Winooski River over which this bridge spans. The water reached about 1 foot over the floor of the bridge depositing a lot of silt inside. The level the water reached can be seen on the siding inside.
Visiting the bridge:
After the bridge was reinstalled in 2009, the town created a small park-like area at the bridge. There is a substantially large parking area from which a foot path leads to the bridge. Some benches were installed and a pair of granite posts with informational plaques prevent motor traffic from entering the bridge.
When the river flooded in 2011, it left the park in shambles. The parking area was pretty much all mud, the path to the bridge severely washed out, and all kinds of tree branches piled up on either side of the bridge.
It has been all cleaned up, and with its agricultural days behind it, the Martin Bridge gives visitors an opportunity to study covered bridge construction up close without worrying about traffic. The other side of the bridge also has a fairly large walking trail system that connects to an old railroad line.