Blow-Me-Down Covered Bridge

Site: N08-8
Municipality: Cornish, NH
Location: Mill Road
Site Type: Covered Bridge
UTMs: (Zone 18) E: 712212. N: 4821604.

DESCRIPTION:

Multiple Kingpost Truss, all wood covered bridge, single span. Outside length is 91 feet by 16 1/2 feet wide actual deck length is 85 feet by 14 feet wide.

There are twenty-four panels and twenty-five panel posts on each side.

The bridge rests on natural stone ledge on both ends, with some dry wall selected stone abutments for levelling. The abutment on the south side is cracking, and evidently needs reinforcing with concrete, thus the bridge has been closed to traffic.

The high gable roof is covered with sheet metal, evidently it was originally covered with wood shingles. The central rafter is joined to the ridge (roof) by a perpendicular beam. The top and bottom chords are joined to the panel posts by iron bolts.

The bridge has a six ton posted live load limit.

The portal is segmental/triangular in style, with sheathing of vertical butted boards.

The whole bridge is sheathed on the exterior with butted vertical, plain boards from top to bottom.

STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE

Multiple Kingpost truss type Covered Bridge.

Built and designed by James F. Tasker (1826-1903) of Cornish, New Hampshire. Tasker was paid $528.00 for the work on this bridge in October, 1877.

See also: The National Society for the Preservation of Covered Bridges, World Guide to Covered Bridges, (Number 29-10-10); New Hampshire Department of Public Works and Highways (Number 071/168) and the New Hampshire Department of Resources and Economic Development Survey of Covered Bridge, (Number 23).

MAJOR BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES

Child, William H. History of Cornish, New Hampshire, 1763-1910 (Concord, N.H., 1911) 2 vols.

Cornish, Town of. Selectmen's Journal/Record Book for 1877, Selectmen's Office.

Kenyon, Thedia C., New Hampshire's Covered Bridges, Wake Brook House, (rev. ed.) p. 72.

Keyworth, William G. The Covered Bridges of New Hampshire.

National Society for the Preservation of Covered Bridge, World Guide to Covered Bridges (No. 29-10-10).

FORM PREPARED BY: John H. Dryfhout, Rural Route 2, Cornish, NH. Tel: not given. Date: June/July 1974.

DATE ENTERED: May 19, 1978.
(Source 27)