Blair Covered Bridge - Campton New Hampshire...1829 - 2011...Will be repaired.
Historical Remarks: 
The first bridge at this location was built in 1829 at a cost of $1,000.The construction of the current bridge was brought about when a doctor trying to ford the river on horseback found the current too strong. The horse drowned, but the doctor was saved. The town voted to build a bridge immediately. A sign was posted on the bridge indicating there was a fine of five dollars for riding or driving on the bridge faster than five miles per hour. It was rebuilt by Milton Graton and his son Arnold in 1977 at a cost of $59,379. The town of Campton and the state shared the cost of the repair. The Blair Bridge is eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places.
A Beautiful Historic Covered Bridge ...Meets Tropical Storm Irene.
What a shame...I drover over this bridge a couple of days a week to get to one of the "branch" offices of our real estate company.
Alpine Lakes Real estate covering from Squam lake to Sugar Hill...with office at the Waterville valley and Loon Mountain Ski Resorts in the White mountains of New Hampshire. Use the MLS button on the bottom of this post to search for properties in all of Grafton cCounty's 44 towns.
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You are right mother nature doesn't care how old something is whenever it hits; hopefully, the bridge will be repaired.
Hello Steve, Thanks for the photos of this bridge. I'd heard of this on the news but didnt get to see the photos.
She Really caused quite a mess up in the North Country.
My Friend Cindy...took the photos of the damage and allowed me to use them for this post. The Prior shots were mine -taken last fall.
Steve - wow that's a shame alright. I can remember going over this bridge many years back. Irene was a tough storm for you guys as well as us. Hope your home is ok...
Bob, I got flooded too...Finished lower level was under water -it's a mess. but in every life a little rain must fall.
I barely caught a news broadcast of what looked like a bridge that was damaged ever worse than this. I was on the phone so I'm not sure where. I love these old bridges. We have a few in our state that I know of.....that would be a fun road trip.
Hope you have a great weekend!
What a historic bridge. So glad to see that it's going to be repaired and not replaced with some cold steel structure. Have a great weekend my friend.
Ann & Craig...Right back at you - have a great weekend. I'm looking forward to the re-opening, there are ways around this location but it's really nice to drive through a covered bridge.
I love that bridge! Sorry to hear about the damage, but it looks like it could have been much worse. Hopefully the repair won't take too long.
at least it's repairable.
Steve, great to hear people are going to repair the bridge and not call it progress as they tear it down.
Steve ~ There is something quite charming about covered bridges... we have several in Oregon and sadly, many are seeing their 'final' days. Your pic reminds of the Bridges of Madison County ;) Congrats on the Feature!
I am so happy to hear they are going to repair. The one the news showed over and over get washed away just broke my heart. I hope you'll be there taking photos after the repair to show to us.
Thanks for the pic I heard about it on the news but didn't see any photos. Glad to hear they are going to restore this piece of history.
The Restaurant next to the this beautiful covered bridge got really trashed...feel so bad for the owners of the "Country Cow" best of luck to them.
Steve ~ So sad that Mother Nature had to crash the bridge but happy to hear it will be repaired ~ Woo Hoo and featured!! How are you fairing with the son off at college??
Frank & Karen...Been a tough week, big storm flooded basement and my one and only off to college...but like the bridge all can be fixed.
Glad to see that the historic bridge will be restored. The Northeast took a wallup from Ms Irene.
Wow, that tree sticking through the structure sure tells the story.
Covered bridges are lovely, and this one, especially so. The arch on each side is an interesting feature....I'd love to see more photos to understand how the whole thing hold together.
Leslie...this is one of the longest covered bridges in the state...I'll try to do a periodic drive-by for an update.
Steve, great little bit of history there. Glad you are going to repair it. Not much damage really!
Steve:
So sad to see that lovely bridge damaged so badly. When it is rebuilt please blog to let us know what it looks like after the repairs.
Steve ... What a terrible shame! such destruction to this charming structure, I hope it will be repaired! Thanks for sharing .. Have a and safe Holiday Weekend!
Steve hopefully the bridge can be restored quickly, it would be a real loss if it was not returned back to what it was.
Steve...
Believe it or now we have a covered bridge not to far from the house and it has withstood some huge floods! I'm glad to hear that the bridge will be repaired.
Too bad about that bridge and yes, please keep us updated.
Please do post photos as the repairs happen, sad it was damaged but how great that it can be rebuilt! Beautiful structure.
In PA ours was the Bartram Bridge which has a great history. We're actually running out of the Old Covered Bridges as pieces of our Country's history. This one is a lengthy span Steve, hope it's repaired soon.
That is a treasure for sure, and better that it is going to be repaired and kept for posterity. Although it will probably mean a lot of extra driving to the next bridge to get across the river until it's fixed.
Thanks to all my friends in the rain for your comments.
and to answer your question Ed Silva: the folks that would have routinely driven over this one lane bridge to get home...do have to go 5-10 miles out of their way now.
I loved the courtesy of this bridge, there is no traffic light and the span is nearly 300 feet...so as you approach you stop and wait for the other side to clear before you enter...on a good neighbor style first come basis.
I wonder what it is with a item like this that can activate the warm and fuzzies within a person...Nicely done
Steve-what a shame considering how old that bridge is-it will be repaired and you'll never know it was damaged.
Steve - There was so much destruction from Irene and it's a shame to see a historical landmark like that bridge got caught up in it. What a great story this bridge has and will hopefully continue to have!
Glad it can be repaired, there were a few I saw that didn't make it at all.
Steve, so happy that there is enough of this bridge to repair it. Our youngest went to college last week. We have lived through hurricanes so we feel your pain.
Sharon
Lyn, We lost a lot of bridges to this storm, but none are as historic as the old covered bridges...that need to be restored.
WOW Steve ... congrats on the Feature my friend and some wonderful photos, and a tragic event!
VB ;o)
Bob, We are a hardy bunch in the New England states...and this bridge will be repaired and kept as a historic means of crossing the river.
Steve - I love hearing the history of this charming covered bridge - they are one of my favorite photo subjects when I'm in VT or NH. Irene really gave her a beating - I hope they repair and restore her exactly as she was so that people can continue to enjoy her beauty and history. BTW - I just subscribed - love your blog!
Kristine, I'm with you hoping for a quick recovery to this beautiful old bridge.
thats the nasty thing with hurricanes.....tree damage :(
that bridge looks familiar like it has been in several movies???
Marilyn...I dodn't think Clint Eastwood ever stepped foot on this covered bridge -but it is a beautiful structure for sure.