By MARY CARTER
Eagle Times Correspondent
MERIDEN, N.H. — Compiling a work about New Hampshire’s iconic covered bridges was, in Kim Varney Chandler’s own words, “one of the best things I’ve gotten the courage to do.”
Minus “two stints living south of the Mason-Dixon,” Varney Chandler has been a lifelong New Hampshirite. Her hometown boasts a quintessential mode of transportation — the Hancock-Greenfield Bridge as it’s called — with the town names shuffled depending on which side of the Contoocook River one favors. In the state database, it’s neutrally known as the “The County Bridge.”
After several drives over and leisurely days of boating beneath, Varney Chandler became intrigued by this bridge’s backstory. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the County Bridge, nestled in this tiny pocket of New England, was the first in the northeastern U.S. to utilize modern engineering.
While entertaining visiting friends with a tour of area covered bridges, Varney Chandler became inspired to put her love of researching, photography and history to the test. She vowed to visit and study every covered bridge in the state. This quest united Varney Chandler with bridgewrights, framers, engineers, historians, town clerks, librarians and community members, all with fascinating stories to share.
On Thursday, Feb. 8, Kim Varney Chandler met with an attentive and full house of area residents at the Meriden Library in Plainfield. It was evident from the get-go that the well-spoken Varney Chandler knew her subject well. As she gave an engaging overview of our state’s spanning treasures, photographs rippled across the screen beside her. Several of the bridges shown were from the Plainfield-Cornish area. When asked if she had a favorite, Varney Chandler smiled and shook her head.
“That’s like picking a favorite child,” she replied.
What was the allure of covered bridges? Was it to keep the snow off and horses calm enough to cross a river? Partially correct. Townspeople of the past were paid to “snow” bridges, so that sleighs could travel through them.
“Perhaps one of the best reasons to build covered bridges was because, on average, they lasted 80 years longer than an open one,” Varney Chandler explained.
Some bridges were constructed so that trains could roll along the crest while vehicles traveled below. Many had to be widened as vehicles progressed in size. Certain bridges became the canvases for catchy billboards, while a few had their planks kicked out to create benches to fish from. Spans that no longer served purpose became storage facilities. Varney Chandler shared fabulous photos and fun facts about them all.
Cornish’s James Frederick Tasker (1826-1903) built 16 covered bridges in the Twin State area, with nine still in existence today. Some of his bridges were taken by floods and some by time. Those that remain have been saved by the efforts of dedicated townspeople. Tasker’s most famous, the Cornish Windsor, is the longest wooden covered bridge in the U.S. and, with a minor tweak of details, the longest in the world.
Once upon a time, New Hampshire was home to over 300 covered bridges. Today, we have less than 70. The number one reason for loss? Sadly, it’s arson. Varney Chandler is passionate about these exemplary structures, the stories of those who put them in place, and the endeavors of those who work tirelessly today to preserve them.
Varney Chandler’s award winning book, “Covered Bridges of New Hampshire” is a must for anyone with a love of history and community. To learn more about Kim, her work and her captivating book tour, visit here.
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