Covered Bridges of New Hampshire

Kim speaks with David Kruidenier, President of the Cornish Historical Society. David shares what makes Cornish one of New Hampshire's most historically significant towns and explains how its four covered bridges, historic architecture, and deep sense of place reflect the community's rich heritage and ongoing commitment to preservation.Links from the conversationCornish Historical SocietyCornish-Windsor Covered Bridge PhotosBlacksmith Shop Bridge PhotosDingleton Hill Bridge PhotosBlow-Me-Down Bridge PhotosSaint-Gaudens MemorialLinks for Covered Bridges of New HampshireCovered Bridges of New HampshireSupport the show

Kim talks with George Born, Historic Resources Specialist with the New Hampshire Land and Community Heritage Investment Program. George explains how LCHIP supports the protection of significant historic and cultural sites across the state, including several of New Hampshire’s covered bridges.Links from the conversationLCHIPLinks for Covered Bridges of New HampshireCovered Bridges of New HampshireSupport the show

Kim talks with Dave Anderson, Senior Director of Education for the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests. Dave discusses the history and setting of the Sentinel Pine Bridge in Flume Gorge, and how it fits within the broader stewardship of Franconia Notch State Park.Links from the conversationSociety for the Protection of New Hampshire ForestsFranconia Notch State ParkFlume GorgeSentinel Pine BridgeLinks for Covered Bridges of New HampshireCovered Bridges of New HampshireSupport the show

Kim talks with Bob Watts, co-vice president of the National Society for the Preservation of Covered Bridges. Bob explores the career and innovations of early bridge builder Timothy Palmer, his groundbreaking river crossings, and his role in establishing the covered timber truss tradition in the United States.Links from the conversationNational Society for the Preservation of Covered BridgesLinks for Covered Bridges of New HampshireCovered Bridges of New HampshireSupport the show

Kim speaks with Phill Gatenby, who shares how a simple curiosity turned into a personal mission to visit and document all one hundred covered bridges in Vermont. Phill talks about the stories he’s uncovered, the experiences he’s had along Vermont’s back roads, and what he’s learned while filming these historic structures one bridge at a time.Links from the conversationVermont's 100 Covered Bridges on YouTubeVermont's 100 Covered Bridges on FacebookVermont Covered Bridge SocietyLinks for Covered Bridges of New HampshireCovered Bridges of New HampshireSupport the show

Kim talks with Michael Haley Goldman, Executive Director of New Hampshire Humanities. Michael discusses how the organization connects communities through stories and ideas and highlights its statewide speakers bureau, which brings free public programs to communities across New Hampshire.Links from the conversationNew Hampshire Humanities Links for Covered Bridges of New HampshireCovered Bridges of New HampshireSupport the show

Kim speaks with Bill Caswell, longtime President of the National Society for the Preservation of Covered Bridges. Bill discusses the impact and enduring scholarship of Richard Sanders Allen and the publication he launched that continues to connect bridge historians and enthusiasts.Links from the conversationNational Society for the Preservation of Covered BridgesCovered Bridge TopicsRichard Sanders Allen Collection at the Hudson Mohawk Industrial GatewayBooks by Richard Sanders AllenLinks for Covered Bridges of New HampshireCovered Bridges of New HampshireSupport the show

Kim speaks with photographer Steve Brown. Steve reflects on a lifetime behind the camera and offers practical guidance for capturing covered bridges—from understanding light and composition to how to work a covered bridge.Links from the conversationSteve's Photography on Fine Art AmericaLinks for Covered Bridges of New HampshireCovered Bridges of New HampshireSupport the show

Kim talks with Donna Crane of the Wilton Heritage Commission and Kermit Williams, Chair of the Wilton Selectboard. Donna and Kermit discuss the history and significance of the Old Russell Hill Road Bridge and the community’s efforts to preserve this distinctive Wilton landmark.Links from the conversationWilton Heritage CommissionPhotos of the Old Russell Hill Road BridgeHistoric American Engineering Record/Library of CongressLinks for Covered Bridges of New HampshireCovered Bridges of New HampshireSupport the show

Kim speaks with Will Truax, timber framer, bridgewright, and preservation carpenter. Will discusses his decades of work in timber restoration, his involvement with the Timber Framers Guild, and the Guild’s 2011 covered bridge project in Chester.Links from the conversationTimber Framers GuildPhotos of the Wason Pond BridgeBridgewright BlogLinks for Covered Bridges of New HampshireCovered Bridges of New HampshireSupport the showSupport the show

Kim talks with Mike Kowalczyk, founder and president of the Monadnock Region Rail Trail Collaborative. Mike discusses the rail trail system of Southwestern New Hampshire and why preserving and completing this historic trail network remains vital to the Monadnock Region.Links from the conversationMonadnock Rail Trail CollaborativeTrail LinkGreater Monadnock CollaborativeLinks for Covered Bridges of New HampshireCovered Bridges of New HampshireSupport the show

Kim speaks with Rick Kfoury, President of the Boston and Maine Railroad Historical Society. Rick shares insight into New Hampshire’s remaining covered railroad bridges, the influence of the Boston and Maine Railroad, and the historical context behind these rare surviving structures.Links from the conversationBoston and Maine Railroad Historical SocietyBoston and Maine Railroad Historical Society - YouTube ChannelThe New England Southern Railroad Vol I and II by Rick KfourySteam Trains of Yesteryear: The Monadnock, Steamtown & Northern Story by Rick KfouryQueen City Rails: Manchester's Railroads 1965-1990 by Rick KfouryLinks for Covered Bridges of New HampshireCovered Bridges of New HampshireSupport the show

The Covered Bridges of New Hampshire Podcast is back with new stories from across the Granite State. Season 2 drops June 2, 2026!Recipient of the 2023 Second Place Award for Best Audio Podcast from the New Hampshire Press Association, the series returns with fresh conversations featuring historians, photographers, preservationists, and community advocates who share a passion for covered bridges and New Hampshire history.Whether you’re a covered bridge expert or know very little about covered bridges, this podcast is for you.Follow along and start listening on June 2. Need to catch up on Season 1? Find all twenty episodes of the Covered Bridges of New Hampshire Podcast wherever you get your podcasts.Links for Covered Bridges of New HampshireCovered Bridges of New HampshireSupport the show

Kim talks with Alan Rumrill, Executive Director of the Historical Society of Cheshire County. Alan shares the rich history of the lost bridges of the Monadnock area and why the remaining covered bridges are valued by the community. Links from the conversationHistorical Society of Cheshire CountyLinks for Covered Bridges of New HampshireCovered Bridges of New HampshireSupport the show

Kim talks with  Warner historian Rebecca Courser about the namesake of the Dalton Bridge. Rebecca shares with us a history of the town of Warner, the Dalton family, and just who exactly the covered bridge was named after.Links from the conversationWarner Historical SocietyLinks for Covered Bridges of New HampshireCovered Bridges of New HampshirePhotos of the Dalton BridgeSupport the show

Kim talks with lifelong Swanzey resident Lee Dunham about the namesake of the Thompson covered bridge. Lee walks us through the exciting life of actor and playwright Denman Thompson and his production, The Old Homestead; and how integral the play has been to the town of Swanzey for over a hundred years.Links from the conversationThe Old Homestead2016 Article in the Keene SentinelDenman ThompsonThe silent film, The Old HomesteadLinks for Covered Bridges of New HampshireCovered Bridges of New HampshirePhotos of the West Swanzey/Thompson BridgeSupport the show

Kim talks with two women who live on either side of the Columbia Bridge in northern New Hampshire. Columbia, New Hampshire, resident Stacey Campbell and Lemington, Vermont, resident Sharon Ellingwood White, share how the location of the Columbia Bridge has connected their two communities across the Connecticut River for almost two hundred years. Links for Covered Bridges of New HampshireCovered Bridges of New HampshirePhotos of the Columbia BridgeSupport the show

Kim talks with Kaleigh Paré Shaughnessy, Executive Director of the John Greenleaf Whittier Birthplace, about the namesake of the Whittier Bridge in Ossipee. Kaleigh tells us the story of how a young Massachusetts poet transitioned from a fierce abolitionist to one of America’s most beloved fireside poets, and how his name became attached to a New Hampshire covered bridge.Links from the conversationWhittier BirthplaceLinks for Covered Bridges of New HampshireCovered Bridges of New HampshirePhotos of the Whittier BridgeSupport the show

Kim interviews Francis Faulkner, Jr. of Swanzey, about his involvement in fundraising efforts to rebuild the Slate Bridge after it was destroyed by arson in 1993. Francis shares the many layers of funding through the process of town meeting and the community connection to covered bridges in Swanzey.Links from the conversationTown of SwanzeyLinks for Covered Bridges of New HampshireCovered Bridges of New HampshirePhotos of the Slate BridgeSupport the show

Kim interviews  Marilyn Stuller of Langdon about her experience leading the fundraising efforts to save Langdon’s two historic covered bridges. Marilyn shares the story of the organic process that took fourteen years to complete and the value of preserving part of the tapestry of the greater Langdon community.Links from the conversationFarview FarmArnold M. Graton AssociatesTown of LangdonLinks for Covered Bridges of New HampshireCovered Bridges of New HampshirePhotos of the McDermott BridgePhotos of the Prentiss BridgeSupport the show

Kim talks with Trish Kane, Collections Curator of the Theodore Burr Covered Bridge Resource Center in Oxford, New York. Trish shares a history of the center, the significance of its namesake, and her personal journey in the preservation of historic covered bridges. Links from the conversationThe Theodore Burr Covered Bridge Resource CenterThe Oxford Memorial LibraryCovered Spans of YesteryearNew York State's Covered BridgesNY State Driving Tour of Covered Bridges - Contact InfoLinks for Covered Bridges of New HampshireCovered Bridges of New HampshireSupport the show

Kim talks with master bridgewright Arnold M. Graton of Holderness about his long career preserving and restoring historic structures, most notably, covered bridges.  Arnold shares his experiences utilizing nineteenth-century construction to both restore, and build, new covered bridges, not only in New Hampshire but across the country.  This is a rare interview with a true master whose impact on the New Hampshire covered bridge community is without precedence.  Links from the conversationArnold M. Graton AssociatesFull Project ListYankee Magazine Article - The Man Who Saves Covered BridgesThe Day - Mayflower II Restoration ContinuesLinks for Covered Bridges of New HampshireCovered Bridges of New HampshirePhotos of the Corbin BridgePhotos of the Durgin BridgePhotos of the Bump BridgePhotos of the Turkey Jim BridgeSupport the show

Kim talks with Steve Taylor of Plainfield about the importance of covered bridges in New Hampshire communities. Steve explains how a practical approach to bridge building has translated into part of our cultural cache and how important these covered bridges are not only to small towns but to the state as a whole. Links from the conversationStephen Taylor - New Hampshire Humanities Council100 Things You Should Do to Know the Real New Hampshire - NH MagazineSteve Taylor: Newspaperman, Farmer, and Public Servant - InDepthNHLinks for Covered Bridges of New HampshireCovered Bridges of New HampshirePhotos of the Meriden BridgePhotos of the Cornish-Windsor BridgePhotos of the Corbin BridgeSupport the show

Kim interviews  New Hampshire Preservation Alliance Executive Director Jennifer Goodman about historic preservation efforts in the state and their impact on saving covered bridges.  Join us for a conversation about successful preservation efforts and how the Alliance celebrates this work.Links from the conversationNew Hampshire Preservation Alliance2020 Preservation Achievement Award Winner - Arnold M. GratonLinks for Covered Bridges of New HampshireCovered Bridges of New Hampshire Support the show

Kim interviews Sandwich Historical Society Director Jim Mykland about the Durgin family of Sandwich and their namesake covered bridge. Learn about the Durgin's   influence on the political climate of Sandwich in the mid-nineteenth century as well as their role in the Underground Railroad.Links from the conversationSandwich Historical SocietyJane Varney Durgin BookLinks for Covered Bridges of New HampshireCovered Bridges of New HampshirePhotos of the Durgin Bridge  Support the show

Kim interviews engineer Sean James, Senior Vice President at Hoyle, Tanner & Associates in Manchester about the twenty-one month-long rehabilitation of the Bath Bridge in Bath, New Hampshire. Sean walks us through the process of carrying out a $2 million project on a 375’ covered bridge and shares some interesting stories he learned along the way. Links from the conversationHoyle, Tanner & AssociatesLinks for Covered Bridges of New HampshireCovered Bridges of New HampshirePhotos of the Bath BridgeSupport the show

Kim interviews two people who were instrumental in the 2021 rehabilitation of the Bement Bridge in Bradford. Town Administrator Karen Hambleton and engineer Josif Bicja from Hoyle Tanner share their experiences with the project and walk us through a $1.6 million renovation of an historic covered bridge. Links from the conversationHoyle, Tanner & AssociatesTown of BradfordLinks for Covered Bridges of New HampshirePhotos of the Bement BridgeCovered Bridges of New HampshireSupport the show

Kim interviews engineer Bob Durfee of DuBois & King about bridgewright Peter Paddleford and his unique truss design. Learn why even though it was never patented, the Paddleford truss dominated covered bridge construction in northern New England for many years. Today there are only 22 Paddleford covered bridges left in New England. Links from the conversationDuBois & King, Inc.The Paddleford TrussLong Truss PatentLinks for Covered Bridges of New HampshireCovered Bridges of New HampshirePhotos of the Swiftwater BridgePhotos of the Whittier BridgeSupport the show

Kim interviews bridgewright Tim Andrews about the 1999 rehabilitation of the Ashuelot Bridge in Winchester.  This project won the first Palladio Award for covered bridges in 2003. Tim shares details about the work and interesting things they uncovered during the project.Links from the conversationGuidelines for Rehabilitating Historic Covered BridgesCovered Bridges and the Birth of American EngineeringLinks for Covered Bridges of New HampshirePhotos of the Ashuelot BridgeCovered Bridges of New HampshireSupport the show

Kim interviews architect Christopher Marston, project leader of the  Historic American Engineering Record, and its National Covered Bridge Recording Project, through which over one hundred historic covered bridges were documented, including twelve in New Hampshire.Links from the conversationNational Covered Bridges Recording ProjectLibrary of Congress - HAER CollectionBurlington Charter for the Preservation of Historic Covered BridgesGuidelines for Rehabilitating Historic Covered BridgesCovered Bridges and the Birth of American EngineeringBipartisan Infrastructure Law - Bridge Investment Program (BIP) Fact Sheet Links for Covered Bridges of New HampshireCovered Bridges of New HampshireSupport the show

Kim interviews engineer Sean James, Senior Vice President at Hoyle, Tanner & Associates in Manchester about the Town Truss. This lattice truss design was first patented by Ithiel Town in 1820 and has since been regarded as one of the most significant developments in the history of covered bridges. Sean will explain why that is and tell us about some of New Hampshire’s Town Truss Bridges.Links from the conversationHoyle, Tanner & AssociatesLinks for Covered Bridges of New HampshireCovered Bridges of New HampshirePhotos of the Ashuelot BridgePhotos of the Slate BridgePhotos of the Haverhill Bath BridgeSupport the show

Kim interviews artist Craig Pursley, who lives and works on either side of the Bath Bridge in Bath, New Hampshire. Craig serves as a docent of sorts of the second oldest covered bridge in the state and shares local folklore and history of the historic landmark. Links from the conversationCraig Pursley, ArtistLinks for Covered Bridges of New HampshirePhotos of the Bath BridgeCovered Bridges of New HampshireSupport the show

For the inaugural episode, Kim interviews members of the National Society for the Preservation of Covered Bridges, including President Bill Caswell and co-vice presidents Bob Watts and Scott Wagner about their passion for covered bridges and their volunteer work with the NSPCB.  You’ll learn about preservation efforts, how to visit and photograph covered bridges, arson reduction efforts, research, and archival efforts, and how your donation to or membership in the NSPCB makes a difference in saving our historic covered bridges.Links from the conversationNational Society for the Preservation of Covered BridgesCovered Spans of YesteryearThe Covered Bridge Experience Facebook PageLinks for Covered Bridges of New HampshireCovered Bridges of New HampshireSupport the show

Join Kim as she interviews members of the covered bridge community in New Hampshire. Whether you're a covered bridge expert, or, know very little about covered bridges, this podcast is for you!  Please subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss any episodes.Links for Covered Bridges of New HampshireCovered Bridges of New HampshireSupport the show