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Documenting North America's past & present covered bridges

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Slate, Cheshire County

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

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Inventory Number: NH/29-03-06x
County: Cheshire County
Township: Swanzey
Town/Village:
Bridge Name: Slate
Crosses: Ashuelot River
Truss type:
Spans: 1
Length: 145'
Roadway Width:
Built: 1862
Builder:
When Lost: 08 Mar 1993
Cause: Arson
Latitude: N42 50.851
Longitude: W072 20.416
See a map of the area
Topographic map of the area
Directions: 5.5 miles south of jct NH10/12/101 and Keene on NH10 (south) (West Swanzey Rd.), then 0.4 miles left on Westport Village Rd.

Slate Bridge, Swanzey, Cheshire County, NH Built 1862 Arson 8 Mar 1993
Bill Caswell Photo, September 16, 1984

Slate Bridge, Swanzey, Cheshire County, NH Built 1862 Arson 8 Mar 1993
New Hampshire Department of Transportation Photo

Slate Bridge, Swanzey, Cheshire County, NH Built 1862 Arson 8 Mar 1993
Todd Clark Collection

Slate Bridge, Swanzey, Cheshire County, NH Built 1862 Arson 8 Mar 1993
Earll Richard Stone Photo

Comments:
The bridge name originates from the Slate family who lived on a farm along the river north of the bridge. It was the second bridge on this location, the first having been built around 1800. In 1842 William Wheelock was halfway across the earlier bridge with a span of four oxen when the bridge collapsed dropping both driver and animals into the river. Although no one was hurt, Wheelock engaged an attorney from Keene to seek damages from the town. According to the Hillsborough Messenger of July 5, 1917, 80-year-old O. L. Eaton was held up at gunpoint by two highway robbers in a covered bridge near Westport. "He was on his way to Westport when the attack occurred, to purchase some real estate, and is said to have had a large sum of money with him. When he drove into the covered bridge, two masked men sprang in front of his horse, and pointing revolvers at him demanded his money. Mr. Eaton whipped up his horse which broke into a galop and the highwaymen fired after him. One bullet passed through his hand. An automobile bearing a Massachusetts number came up and the men got into it and drove off….Mr. Eaton is in the hospital and county officials are trying to get some clue to the men." On March 8, 1993, the Slate Bridge was destroyed by fire. The current covered bridge was designed by Hoyle, Tanner & Associates and built by Wright Construction at a cost of $950,000. Opening ceremonies took place on October 6, 2001 with about 150 people in attendance. The current bridge was damaged by a snow plow in 1987 and was repaired at a cost of $2,000. The original Slate Bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Source:
Marshall, Richard G.. New Hampshire Covered Bridges : A Link With Our Past, 1994, page 9

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