Covered Bridges on Two Wheels
A photographic journey to Vermont's Covered Bridges
Martin's Mill Bridge
Current Status: Open
Location: Hartland, on Martinsville Road
Crosses: Lulls Brook
GPS: 43.531441N, 72.397301W
Built: 1881 Length: 139 feet
Truss Design: Town lattice
WGN*: VT-14-01 NRHP**: Yes
* WGN: World Guide to Covered Bridges Number
**NRHP: Listed on National Register of Historic Places
The Martin's Mill Bridge, also known as the Martinsville Bridge, and the bygone village located here were named for the Martin families that built up an early industrial complex.
From the early 1800's up until the mid-1900's, various enterprises made use of the brook's water power and the fact that the road used to be part of the Connecticut River Turnpike.
A grist mill was built at the site in 1823, and when it was destroyed by fire, pledges from individuals helped rebuild the structure into a woolen mill.
Frank Martin then took over the space and created the FP Martin Blind and Sash Company which remained in business until 1950. Ernest Martin (and then later, sons Earl and Ernest) ran a sawmill across the road which competed with his brother's mill. This lasted until around 1960. There are only ruins left, including a large concrete structure just south of the bridge. This bin (now a popular hangout, based on the graffiti) held sawdust blown down from the mill above. Residents were able to back up here and load up.
The bridge itself has remained relatively untouched. Some bracing was added under the bridge, and the abutments have obviously been capped with concrete. In order to give the bridge more lateral strength, steel cables have been attached. When I visited though, and as can be seen in the first photo of the slideshow above, the bridge has a bit of a wrack, or twist to it. The portals don't quite line up to each other square. Despite this, the Martin's Mill Bridge is a beautifully well-built bridge hidden away in the trees.
Visiting the bridge:
While this bridge used to see plenty of traffic in its heyday, now it is likely used solely by the residents of the small remaining village.
Martinsville Road is a fairly short loop road accessed on either end from Route 5. From the north, it starts as a paved road until just past the Hartland Elementary School where it turns into a dirt road barely 1 car wide. From the southern end, it starts out as dirt almost immediately. If you are your motorcycle, you can flip a coin as to which way to approach as the travel on dirt from either end is virtually the same. The southern approach is the more densely populated side where many interesting old buildings remain.
Parking at the bridge is no problem, as there is a large area where the sawdust bin remains are located.