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Bedell, Grafton County

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Inventory Number: NH/29-05-12#2x / VT-09-12#2x
State of New Hampshire Number: 26
County: Grafton County / Orange County
Township: Haverhill - Newbury
Town/Village:
Bridge Name: Bedell
Crosses: Connecticut River
Truss type: Burr/Arch
Spans: 2
Length: 396'
Roadway Width:
Built: 1866
Builder:
When Lost: 14 Sep 1979
Cause: Blown down
Latitude: N44 02.72
Longitude: W072 04.46
See a map of the area
Topographic map of the area
Directions: Off VT5 & NH10, 2.4 miles north of Haverhill.

Bedell Bridge, Haverhill, NH - Newbury, VT. Built 1866 Blown down 14 Sep 1979
George Pease Collection, NSPCB Archives

Bedell Bridge, Haverhill, NH - Newbury, VT. Built 1866 Blown down 14 Sep 1979
Richard E. Roy Collection

Bedell Bridge, Haverhill, NH - Newbury, VT. Built 1866 Blown down 14 Sep 1979
Bill Caswell Collection

Bedell Bridge, Haverhill, NH - Newbury, VT. Built 1866 Blown down 14 Sep 1979
Todd Clark Collection

Comments:
The first bridge at this site was an open structure built in 1805. In 1821, it was rebuilt and stood until 1841. In 1851, another open bridge was constructed and stood until 1862. A middle pier was added and the first covered bridge was built in 1863. Per the Argus and Patriot (Montpelier), July 12, 1866, "Bridge Destroyed. The covered bridge over the Connecticut, at South Newbury, was blown over during the strong wind about 5 o'clock on the afternoon of July 4th. It was a new bridge. Mr. John Forsyth and lady, of East Corinth were on the bridge a few moments before it fell---they were passing to tbe Vermont side. Two gentlemen on foot, about the same time crossed the bridge to the New Hampshire side, and meeting two gentlemen with ladies in carriages, they advised them not to proceed, as the bridge might soon fall. This advice not being heeded the foot men seized the horses and deliberately turned them round. The bridge was soon a mass of ruins in the river, where it still remains. The destruction of the bridge is a serious loss to the proprietors, and to the community." The second covered bridge was erected by a local entrepreneur, Moody Bedell, who had operated a ferry service here prior to the first bridge in 1805. The two spans are of unequal lengths, one is 244' long and the other is 192'. Arches were added to the Burr truss after the 1927 flood and the bridge was more securely fastened to its pier and abutments. As a result, it was better able to withstand the ice flood of 1936 which reached nearly to its eaves. It was closed in 1958 and was nearly lost until Milton Graton rebuilt it in 1978 and 1979. The newly reconstructed bridge was destroyed during a hurricane less than two months after it reopened. At the time, a wedding rehearsal was taking place inside the bridge. Luckily, no one was hurt.

Sources:
Argus and Patriot (Montpelier), July 12, 1866.
Connecticut River Valley Covered Bridge Society. Bulletin, Volume X, No. 2, Fall 1963, page 4