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Covered Bridge Circuit (a 3 hour
trip)
Six of the 55 nineteenth century
covered bridges in New Hampshire are within an hour's
drive from Jackson. The bridges are numbered according
to geographical location. One of the most charming of
these bridges spans the Route 16A entrance into Jackson.
This "honeymoon" or "kissing bridge" received its
nickname from a local inn keeper who saw it as a way to
draw attention to it -and to the village. He certainly
succeeded! The bridge has been Jackson's endearing
symbol for over a century. The span was constructed by
Charles Broughton who lived on a dairy farm in the
village in 1876. After arson destroyed three covered
bridges in New Hampshire in 1993, the town of Jackson
installed a fire detection system that will sound an
alarm in the nearby fire station. The most recent
renovation which includes a sprinkling system was
completed in 2004. This "barn red " painted bridge
crossing the Ellis River is a well cared for and
celebrated entryway into Jackson village.
Leaving Jackson through this 1876
structure (#51), go south to Route302 and find the
privately owned Bartlett Bridge which is unique among
all the bridges of New Hampshire because its function
has been changed from roadway to retail store. Visit the
gift shop which takes up one half the length of this
structure. This bridge which is # 50 was constructed in
1851.
Continuing towards the notch town
of Bartlett, take a left onto the Bear Notch Road, a
three season backcountry road which provides a shortcut
to the world-famous Kancamaugus Highway which winds
through the White Mountains and has been named one of
the top ten scenic highways in the U. S. On the eastern
end of the route as you come off Bear Notch Road, lies
the 1858 span which goes over the Swift River near the
Covered Bridge Campground. If you're looking for
wildlife, always be alert when a group of vehicles is
pulled over by the side of the road-that's a sure sign
that a local moose has emerged from a nearby marsh! The
next stop provides a perfect picnic site. Follow #16
north at the lights at the end of Route112. At the next
set of lights, which is in the village of Conway, take a
left on to Washington Street to enjoy two bridges within
sight of one another. Enjoy your box lunch (from your
inn or one of the Jackson delicatessens) at the Saco
River Bridge, which was reconstructed by the builder of
the Jackson Bridge, Charles Broughton, after spring
flood waters floated the original structure downstream
into the Swift River Bridge. Remnants of both bridges
were used to rebuild the Swift River Bridge in 1870
which can be seen from your picnic table site. For the
adventuresome, a climb to the riverbank on the upstream
side will offer good views of both bridges looking down
this narrow, babbling river.
You can find your next destination
by turning right to get back on Route16 south or you can
continue straight at the lights on Route 113 and wind
through the backcountry on "a road less traveled." This
road returns you to Route16 south in Chocorua and you
will go south to the Whittier bridge in West Ossippee.
The Whittier Bridge which was named after the popular
19th century poet, John Greenleaf Whittier, has been
caught up in progress as it now sadly lies hemmed in
between two modern highways, Routes 25 and 16. At one
time, the well used span was the main thoroughfare in a
busy neighborhood. After it fell into disrepair, a
summer resident paid for its restoration in memory of
his wife.
The most remote of these historic
bridges is well worth the trip- the third one to be
built at the Cold River. This 1869 structure was
believed to part of the" underground railroad" for
slaves fleeing from the south and heading to Canada. To
visit this wonderful structure, follow Route 16 south
out of Conway and turn right into Sandwich on Route 113.
From Route 113 in Sandwich go north on Foss Flat road
which is two miles east of North Sandwich village for
1.5 miles to the bridge. This is #45 in the New
Hampshire collection of bridges and a pleasant journey,
especially during foliage season when the red leaves are
floating on the rivers. Return home on Route 16 north to
Jackson after a nostalgic trip into the nineteenth
century.
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