Rhode Island's only covered bridge is in Foster. Although it is one of the nation's newest and smallest (36 feet long) covered bridges, it has a dramatic history. In the late fall of 1992, Swamp Meadow Covered Bridge, a latticed-truss, one-lane bridge, was built over Hemlock Brook, much to the delight of locals who took seriously the fact that Rhode Island was the only New England state without a covered bridge. On a September night one year later, teenage vandals doused the bridge with gasoline and, with the flick of a lighter, destroyed it. The townspeople were so distraught that they weren't sure they wanted to rebuild, however, calls, money, and offers of support came from all over Rhode Island. A few months later, volunteers began the process that ultimately led to rebuilding. Dedicated in November 1994, the new bridge resembles an authentic 19th-century covered bridge. To visit: From Route 6, go south on Route 94; turn right on Central Pike.
Saturday, October 24, 2015
Rhode Island's Only Covered Bridge
Posted by Wayne G. Barber
Rhode Island's only covered bridge is in Foster. Although it is one of the nation's newest and smallest (36 feet long) covered bridges, it has a dramatic history. In the late fall of 1992, Swamp Meadow Covered Bridge, a latticed-truss, one-lane bridge, was built over Hemlock Brook, much to the delight of locals who took seriously the fact that Rhode Island was the only New England state without a covered bridge. On a September night one year later, teenage vandals doused the bridge with gasoline and, with the flick of a lighter, destroyed it. The townspeople were so distraught that they weren't sure they wanted to rebuild, however, calls, money, and offers of support came from all over Rhode Island. A few months later, volunteers began the process that ultimately led to rebuilding. Dedicated in November 1994, the new bridge resembles an authentic 19th-century covered bridge. To visit: From Route 6, go south on Route 94; turn right on Central Pike.
Rhode Island's only covered bridge is in Foster. Although it is one of the nation's newest and smallest (36 feet long) covered bridges, it has a dramatic history. In the late fall of 1992, Swamp Meadow Covered Bridge, a latticed-truss, one-lane bridge, was built over Hemlock Brook, much to the delight of locals who took seriously the fact that Rhode Island was the only New England state without a covered bridge. On a September night one year later, teenage vandals doused the bridge with gasoline and, with the flick of a lighter, destroyed it. The townspeople were so distraught that they weren't sure they wanted to rebuild, however, calls, money, and offers of support came from all over Rhode Island. A few months later, volunteers began the process that ultimately led to rebuilding. Dedicated in November 1994, the new bridge resembles an authentic 19th-century covered bridge. To visit: From Route 6, go south on Route 94; turn right on Central Pike.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment