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Gorham or Goodnough, Rutland County

If you find errors in the data please contact Bill Caswell.

If you would like to provide information on covered bridges that no longer exist from your state, or adopt a state to work on, we would certainly welcome your assistance. Please contact Trish Kane for more information.

Inventory Number: VT/45-11-04x
County: Rutland County
Township: Pittsford - Proctor
Town/Village:
Bridge Name: Gorham or Goodnough
Crosses: Otter Creek
Truss type: Town
Spans: 1
Length: 115'
Roadway Width:
Built: 1842
Builder: Abraham Owen & Nichols M. Powers
When Lost: 2004
Cause: Rebuilt/Replaced
Latitude: N43 40.80
Longitude: W073 02.23
See a map of the area
Topographic map of the area
Directions: 1.9 miles south of jct US7 on VT3, then 0.5 miles right on Gorham Bridge Rd.

Gorham or Goodnough Bridge, Pittsford-Proctor, Rutland County, VT Built 1842 Lost 2004
Bill Caswell Photo (1987)

Gorham or Goodnough Bridge, Pittsford-Proctor, Rutland County, VT Built 1842 Lost 2004
Richard E. Roy Collection

Gorham or Goodnough Bridge, Pittsford-Proctor, Rutland County, VT Built 1842 Lost 2004
Todd Clark Collection

Gorham or Goodnough Bridge, Pittsford-Proctor, Rutland County, VT Built 1842 Lost 2004
NSPCB Archives, September 16, 1970

Comments:
The Gorham bridge was built in 1841 by Nicholas Powers of Rutland, who also built the covered bridge at Pittsford Mills. At the time the structures were put up, Mr. Powers had never even seen a covered bridge. Later he became well known as a builder of covered bridges and built several which were very long, in fact one of his bridges built at Blenheim, N. Y., with its span of 231 feet between abutments, held the record for the longest single span at that time. Per The Brandon Union, January 18, 1929, "The covered structure known as Gorham bridge between Proctor and Pittsford which was torn loose from its foundations in the flood of Nov. 1927 has been put back in place and after the foundations are strengthened and new approaches are built it will be ready for use once more. The work of restoring the bridge was in charge of John Burton of Rutland. The bridge was taken apart in the middle lengthwise after which each side was hauled up the banks and reassembled. Heavy ropes were extended across the stream between trees and a runway 12 feet in height was built of timbers. The bridge was then hauled up into its proper position and is now being anchored. Pedestrians are now able to cross at their own risk.” Major repairs were made in 1956 and again in 1979, but with the exception of two distribution beams tie-bolted under the deck timber, the bridge remained structurally the same as when built. The bridge was closed to traffic and removed from the creek to be renovated. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on February 12, 1974. Extensive work in 2004 caused it to be listed as a new structure in the 2009 World Guide to Covered Bridges.

Source:
The Brandon Union, January 18, 1929.

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