Will Henry Stevens Covered Bridge

Deemed unfit for vehicular and pedestrian traffic, city officials in Warner decided to have the Bagley Bridge destroyed. One of the few master... more

by Ben Prepelka

Title

Will Henry Stevens Covered Bridge

Artist

Ben Prepelka

Medium

Photograph

Description

Deemed unfit for vehicular and pedestrian traffic, city officials in Warner decided to have the Bagley Bridge destroyed. One of the few master covered bridgewrights in the country, Arnold M. Graton stepped in and purchased the old structure in 1966 and placed it in storage.
Forty years later, the one of a kind, old-growth white pine bridge was taken out of storage, placed on a transport and delivered to the Bascom Center in North Carolina. Here in Highland, Graton, with the help of DCF Engineering, reassembled the distinctive Ithiel Town lattice style bridge, creating a one-of-a-kind entrance to the art center. Nearly 60 percent of the bridge material had to be replaced, but Graton used no metal fasteners or supports of any kind. Over 1100 tree-nails, dowels and trunnels rejoined the bridge members. Replacement timbers were cut 20 years ago from Graton's family property, naturally dried and now ready for service. Completed in 2009, the 200 year old bridge is a tribute to conservation, foresight and love of these historic structures.

Uploaded

September 24th, 2015