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West Dummerston, Windham County

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Inventory Number: VT/45-13-02x
County: Windham County
Township: Dummerston
Town/Village: West Dummerston
Bridge Name: West Dummerston
Crosses: West River
Truss type: Town
Spans: 2
Length: 280'
Roadway Width:
Built: Nov 1871
Builder: Caleb B. Lamson
When Lost: 1998
Cause: Rebuilt
Latitude: N42 56.178
Longitude: W072 36.788
See a map of the area
Topographic map of the area
Directions: 7.0 miles north-northwest of jct US5 on VT30, then just right on East West Rd.

West Dummerston Bridge, Dummerston, Windham County, VT Built 1872
Bill Caswell Photo

West Dummerston Bridge, Dummerston, Windham County, VT Built 1872
Richard E. Roy Collection

Comments:
Per the Vermont Phoenix (Brattleboro), May 13, 1870, "West Dummerston.---The road from B. F. Willard's down the brook to West river, the point where the new bridge across the river is to be located, has been surveyed by the selectmen of the town." A predecessor bridge had apparently been about a half mile upstream and there was much contention about where to place the new covered bridge earlier in the process. Per the Bellows Falls Times, October 20, 1871, Frank Barrett, a worker employed in building the bridge was killed instantly when rigging broke and dropped heavy timbers on him. Builder Lamson was on it at the time and suffered a permanent back injury when he landed on a rock in the water. Per the Vermont Chronicle (Bellows Falls), November 25, 1871, "WEST DUMMERSTON.---The bridge across West river at this place is finished. It is a substantial structure, the abutments and pier are of granite from the Black mountain quarry, and it is conceded to be second to no work of the kind on the river. The expense of the bridge, including the stone work, will foot up about $8,000." Per The Brattleboro Daily Reformer, May 2, 1919, "The covered bridge over West River near Williamsville station has been closed for a few days while a new floor was being laid and other repairs were made by A. L. Timson and L. C. Hale. All traffic over that road now has to go through Williamsville."

Sources:
The Brattleboro Daily Reformer, May 2, 1919.
Vermont Chronicle (Bellows Falls), November 25, 1871.
Bellows Falls Times, October 20, 1871.
Vermont Phoenix (Brattleboro), May 13, 1870.
Allen, Richard S. & Morse Victor. Windham County's Famous Covered Bridges, 1960, page 10

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