Gates Farm Covered Bridge
Encyclopedia
The Gates Farm Covered Bridge is a covered bridge
that crosses the Seymour River off State Route 15
in Cambridge, Vermont
. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1974.
The bridge is of Burr arch design, built by George W. Holmes.
further upstream of where it does currently. A bridge called the Little Covered Bridge crossed the Seymour River close by to where the Cambridge Covered Bridge crossed the Lamoille River, both of them on the same highway (Vermont Route 15
). In 1950, the Seymour River's course was changed so that it no longer crossed the highway and instead emptied downstream of the Cambridge Bridge, making the Little Bridge unneeded. In diverting the river, the Gates family farm became separated from its fields by the new course of the river. The Little Bridge was moved to the Gates farm property over the new course of the Seymour River to restore access to the farm's fields. At that time it then became known as the Gates Farm Covered Bridge. (Incidentally, the Cambridge Covered Bridge was moved and became the Shelburne Museum Covered Bridge).
In 1994, after years of neglect, and its new location in a flood plain, the bridge suffered deterioration and was removed from its abutments. In 1995 it was restored, in the process making the interior clearance 18 inches higher to allow larger farm equipment to pass through.More information is needed about this restoration.
Covered bridge
A covered bridge is a bridge with enclosed sides and a roof, often accommodating only a single lane of traffic. Most covered bridges are wooden; some newer ones are concrete or metal with glass sides...
that crosses the Seymour River off State Route 15
Vermont Route 15
Vermont Route 15 is an east–west state highway in northern Vermont, United States. Its western terminus is at U.S. Route 2 and U.S. Route 7 in Winooski and its eastern terminus is at US 2 in Danville. It runs for and is known as the Grand Army of the Republic Highway.Its numbering originates from...
in Cambridge, Vermont
Cambridge, Vermont
Cambridge is a town in Lamoille County, Vermont, United States. The population was 3,186 at the 2000 U.S. Census. Cambridge includes the village of Jeffersonville.-History:...
. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1974.
The bridge is of Burr arch design, built by George W. Holmes.
Recent history
The Seymour River originally emptied into the Lamoille RiverLamoille River
The Lamoille River is a river which runs through northern Vermont and drains into Lake Champlain. It is about in length, and has a drainage area of around . The river generally flows southwest, and then northwest, from the water divide of the Green Mountains, and is the namesake of Lamoille...
further upstream of where it does currently. A bridge called the Little Covered Bridge crossed the Seymour River close by to where the Cambridge Covered Bridge crossed the Lamoille River, both of them on the same highway (Vermont Route 15
Vermont Route 15
Vermont Route 15 is an east–west state highway in northern Vermont, United States. Its western terminus is at U.S. Route 2 and U.S. Route 7 in Winooski and its eastern terminus is at US 2 in Danville. It runs for and is known as the Grand Army of the Republic Highway.Its numbering originates from...
). In 1950, the Seymour River's course was changed so that it no longer crossed the highway and instead emptied downstream of the Cambridge Bridge, making the Little Bridge unneeded. In diverting the river, the Gates family farm became separated from its fields by the new course of the river. The Little Bridge was moved to the Gates farm property over the new course of the Seymour River to restore access to the farm's fields. At that time it then became known as the Gates Farm Covered Bridge. (Incidentally, the Cambridge Covered Bridge was moved and became the Shelburne Museum Covered Bridge).
In 1994, after years of neglect, and its new location in a flood plain, the bridge suffered deterioration and was removed from its abutments. In 1995 it was restored, in the process making the interior clearance 18 inches higher to allow larger farm equipment to pass through.More information is needed about this restoration.