There’s nothing better than a sturdy spruce wood bridge to provide over 150 years of connection between two sides of the Housatonic River. 

Covered bridges in West Cornwall have spanned the Housatonic for centuries, with original spans at the site dating back to the mid-1700’s. Unfortunately, with an average lifespan of just seven to ten years, these ancient wooden links fell victim to Mother Nature over the decades, specifically in the Flood of 1837, which claimed a predecessor of the current design. After the 1841 model was also destroyed, the area’s current bridge was constructed, dating back to 1864. 

The current model hasn’t gone without it’s fair share of problems. It was repaired multiple times due to weather events in the early 1900’s, and a 1961 ice jam was successfully dynamited before it could cause damage.

In addition to weather events, the span has dealt with a steady increase in traffic over its history. It carries pedestrian traffic traveling along Connecticut Route 128, which resulted in a disaster in 1945, when a 20-ton truck fell through the bridge floor. By the late 1960’s, the state was genuinely considering demolishing the bridge, but a local group committed to saving it. 

In 1973, a steel plate was inserted below the traffic deck to support vehicles, saving the bridge and reopening it to traffic for good.