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Scott, Windham 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/45-13-13
County: Windham County
Township: Townshend
Town/Village:
Bridge Name: Scott
Crosses: West River
Truss type: Town & King
Spans: 3+
Length: 276'
Roadway Width:
Built: 1870
Builder: Harrison Chamberlain
When Lost: standing
Cause:
Latitude: N43 02.920
Longitude: W072 41.787
See a map of the area
Topographic map of the area
Directions: 4.4 miles southeast of jct VT100 on VT30, then just right on bypassed section of Back Side Rd.

Scott Bridge, Townshend, Windham County, VT Built 1870
Bill Caswell Photo, April 9, 2011

Scott Bridge, Townshend, Windham County, VT Built 1870
Bill Caswell Photo

Scott Bridge, Townshend, Windham County, VT Built 1870
Richard E. Roy Collection

Comments:
Per the Vermont Phoenix (Brattleboro), November 1, 1912, in recalling the freshet of October 29,1869 in the Townshend area, the article notes that the Harmonyville covered bridge was destroyed in that event and the Scott bridge was "swept away." It is unclear whether the earlier Scott bridge was covered. Per the Bellows Falls Times, August 12, 1870, "TOWNSHEND.---...Work has commenced on the upper West River bridge. Mr. Doran of Chester superintends the stone work and Mr. Granger of Bellows Falls is to erect the bridge." Per the Vermont Journal (Windsor), December 10, 1870, "Townshend.---The new bridge over West River is nearly completed, and will be ready for travel in a few days." The bridge was named for Henry Scott, former landowner, and was built at a cost of $5200. The former bridge was south of the present one. A 166' Town lattice span crosses the river and two Kingpost spans cross the dry land adjacent to the river. Arches were later added to the Town truss. At first, only the Town truss was covered. The kingpost spans were covered in 1873. The structure was deeded to the Vermont Historic Sites Commission in 1955.

Sources:
Vermont Phoenix (Brattleboro), November 1, 1912.
Vermont Journal (Windsor), December 10, 1870.
Bellows Falls Times, August 12, 1870.
Allen, Richard S. & Morse Victor. Windham County's Famous Covered Bridges, 1960, pages 30-32
Conwill, Joseph D.. Images of America - Vermont Covered Bridges, 2004, pages 52 & 53
National Society for the Preservation of Covered Bridges. World Guide to Covered Bridges, 2021, page 151

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