Covered Bridges on Two Wheels
A photographic journey to Vermont's Covered Bridges
School House Bridge
 June 2017 |  June 2017 |
|---|---|
 June 2017 |  June 2017 |
 June 2017 |
Current Status: Pedestrian Only
Location: Lyndon, off South Wheelock Road
Crosses: South Wheelock Branch
of the Passumpsic River
GPS: 44.516086N, 72.009754W
Built: 1879 Length: 45 feet
Truss Design: Queenpost
WGN*: VT-03-03 NRHP**: Yes
* WGN: World Guide to Covered Bridges Number
**NRHP: Listed on National Register of Historic Places
The current School House (or Schoolhouse) Bridge replaced an uncovered bridge on the same site that was built in 1872 to serve a nearby school. The walkway on the one side was not original to the bridge, however at one time the area where the bridge sits was a bustling little village. The wide overspreading eaves, the purpose of which was to keep water off the bridge, provided a perfect opportunity to add a sidewalk for the safety of the many children crossing to and from school.
A short way up the road is the brick school house for which the bridge is named. It once was two stories until fire destroyed it. The current building is the result of restoring the ruins.
School House Bridge shares some of the same traits as the other bridges in Caledonia County, but differs in others. The truss is a queenpost, like most of the other bridges, but it is completely covered by siding, inside and out. Not only is this unique in the county, but in the state. The Warren Bridge is the only other covered bridge in the state with trusses covered on the inside as well as out. Since it is unusual (for this geographical area) for the trusses to be sided, it is surmised that in this case it was to prevent the kids who used the bridge from climbing on them. However, in my write-up for the Warren Bridge, I proffer another possible explanation.
Because the trusses are sided, the eaves of the roof extend out unnecessarily wide, but that is stylistically common to the other bridges in Caledonia County. The portals display similar ornate design as well.
In 1971, Interstate 91 was built very close by (exit 23 is within a stone's throw). At that time, South Wheelock Road was moved slightly and the bridge was bypassed. Sources I consulted make it sound like the Interstate was the cause of the road moving, but it doesn't seem likely since it is only yards away. I think it more likely that they anticipated more traffic on the road and wanted to bypass the bridge, rather than beef it up. Whatever the reason, the bridge now stands closed to automobile traffic.
Visiting the bridge:
The bridge is easy to find and access. After being bypassed, a local business donated the land around it to be used as a park, with the bridge as the focal point. In fact, there is a picnic table inside the bridge.
On an earlier visit to the bridge, vandals had taken to breaking out some of the interior siding, and stuffing fast food wrappers and other trash in the trusses. On my visit in 2017, I found the siding has been repaired.
The park has a good-sized, paved, parking area. However, it has not been kept up and the pavement is crumbling. If you are on a motorcycle, take special care as there is a lot of loose crap.
Be sure to see the bridge from both sides... it is kind of a Jekyll and Hyde with the road-side nicely painted with a painted metal roof and the other side in a raw, natural, state.