Cornish-Windsor Covered Bridge
Windsor, VT
WGN Number: 45-14-14
Photo by Joe Nelson © 1997
The present Cornish-Windsor Bridge is the fourth to stand at this crossing. When the bridge was closed in 1987 for rehabilitation, its importance was proven - places once conveniently close were now miles out of the way. For the two years it was closed, residents had to drive many more miles to conduct their business. The bridge has been a vital link between the two communities since 1866.
The Covered Spans of Yesteryear website provides the following chronology of the bridge: "There were three uncovered wooden bridges previously built on this site in 1796, 1824 and 1828.
The first bridges were destroyed by floods. The current bridge was built by James Tasker and Bela Fletcher. It was framed on a nearby meadow northwest of the site and later moved to its proper location.
In 1935, the New Hampshire General Court authorized funds to purchase the bridge. The structure was purchased by the state in 1936 and operated it as a toll bridge until June 1, 1943. After renovation by the state in 1954, the Cornish Windsor Bridge suffered damage from flood water and ice in 1977. It was repaired again by the state for $25,000.
Because of its deteriorated condition, it was closed to traffic on July 2, 1987. The bridge was reconstructed by the state in 1989 at a cost of $4,450,000 and was opened to traffic on December 8, 1989.
This is the longest historic wooden covered bridge in the United States and the longest two-span covered bridge in the world. The American Society of Civil Engineers designated it as a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark in 1970. The bridge is featured on the Town Bicentennial Medal struck in 1976".
Cornish-Windsor Covered Bridge Vital Statistics
| Town: | Windsor, VT / Cornish, NH |
| Location: | Bridge Street |
| Crossing: | Connecticut River |
| Date: | 1866 |
| Builder: | James Tasker, Bela Fletcher |
| Truss Type: | Squared Timber-lattice |
| Truss Length: | 460 feet |
| National Register of Historical Places Listing Date: | November 21, 1976 |
Credits: All pictures, information and descriptions are taken from Spanning Time Vermont's Covered Bridges by Joseph C. Nelson ©1997 and the World Guide to Covered Bridges - 2009 unless otherwise specified.
