Covered Bridges on Two Wheels
A photographic journey to Vermont's Covered Bridges
Red Bridge
 November 2011 |  November 2011 |
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 November 2011 |  November 2011 |
Current Status: Open
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Location: Morristown, on Cole Hill Road
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Crosses: Sterling Brook
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GPS: 44.518591N, 72.677746W
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Built: 1896 Length: 64 feet
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Truss Design: Queenpost and kingpost
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WGN*: VT-08-11 NRHP**: Yes
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* WGN: World Guide to Covered Bridges Number
**NRHP: Listed on National Register of Historic Places
Nestled way out in the country, in Morristown, is this unique covered bridge. Quite obviously named for its color, the Red Bridge has been called that only in relatively recent times. It was originally named after the Chaffee family that lived nearby during its construction. It has also been known as the Sterling or Sterling Brook Bridge for the waterway it crosses.
What makes this bridge unique is not the outside, but what's inside. The unknown builder decided to use a design that employs a kingpost truss superimposed by a queenpost truss. The year after it was built, a windstorm knocked it askew, so multiple iron rods were installed for strengthening, making the truss even more unique.
In 1971 the State of Vermont modified the bridge to bring it up to "modern" load ratings. The floor was separated and removed from the trusses and replaced with steel I-beam stringers on top of which was laid a concrete deck. To date, this configuration remains, non-traditional as it is.
Despite this bastardization, this bridge has another thing going for it, other than its bright red roof and unique truss. On the northern end, a natural cliff about 20' high serves as one of the abutments. The view of the bridge from below is worth the trip (despite the fact that ugly green steel beams are visible underneath).
Visiting the bridge:
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Being way out in the middle of nowhere, getting to this bridge requires traveling about 1.5 miles on dirt roads, which at the time of my visit were not very hard-packed. The bridge is at a large four-way intersection that provides adequate space to park without being in the way.
The good thing about being in the middle of nowhere, is there is no traffic to worry about. In the approximate half-hour I was there, I saw maybe one car. The bridge doesn't afford much room to cross on foot, but again, with the low traffic in the area, you shouldn't have a problem.
Unfortunately, being in a remote area makes the bridge a target for vandals, and it had been "tagged" multiple times with spray cans when I visited.