Carleton Bridge
About this property
The Carlton Bridge (or Carleton Bridge) is a historic wooden covered bridge that carries Carlton Road over the South Branch Ashuelot River in East Swanzey, New Hampshire. The bridge was built in 1869, and is the region's only surviving example of a 19th-century Queenspost truss bridge. The bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. The Carlton Bridge is located in central eastern Swanzey, in a rural setting on Carlton Road east of New Hampshire Route 32. Carlton Road is one of the main routes connecting Swanzey village with East Swanzey. The bridge is a single span 67 feet 3 inches (20.50 m) in length and 16 feet 6 inches (5.03 m) wide, resting on granite abutments. Its roadway is 12 feet 4 inches (3.76 m) wide, sufficient for one lane of traffic. Its exterior is sheathed in vertical board siding and is topped by a gabled roof. Its trusses have been reinforced with iron tie rods and other metal elements. The bridge was built in 1869 on a site that is believed to have had a bridge since 1789. It is believed to be the only example of a Queenspost truss bridge in southern New Hampshire. This truss method is quite old, and is based on techniques used for building large structures such as churches and barns. The Carlton Bridge was repaired in 1997 by Wright Construction Co., Inc. of Mount Holly, Vermont. Work began with dismantling the bridge to provide access to the bottom chord; reusable pieces were stored in a nearby field. Crews replaced rotted wood throughout the bridge, including the trusses, floorboards, and rails. The repairs cost $414,025, with the State Bridge Aid Program covering 80 percent. The Carlton Bridge reopened on October 4, 1997. List of bridges on the National Register of Historic Places in New Hampshire National Register of Historic Places listings in Cheshire County, New Hampshire
Location
Categories
Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).
Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Everything a full report reveals about Carleton Bridge
This page lists Carleton Bridge. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:
Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.
Questions about this property
When was Carleton Bridge listed on the National Register?
Carleton Bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on June 9, 1975.
What type of historic resource is Carleton Bridge?
Carleton Bridge is classified as a structure in the National Register of Historic Places.
What is the period of significance for Carleton Bridge?
The period of significance for Carleton Bridge is recorded as the industrial era.
Can I research the history near Carleton Bridge?
Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Carleton Bridge will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.
More in Cheshire County
Historic places, battles, and census history across Cheshire County.
Explore CheshireCounty ›More historic places in New Hampshire
Browse all historic places in New Hampshire.
View New Hampshirehistoric sites ›New Hampshire history
Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.
New Hampshirehistory ›Research the history near this site
An Aubrey US report for an address near Carleton Bridge will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.