1776- The first important bridge in town was on the South Rangeway (Warner Road) over the Blackwater River. Built by Sinker Bean and Nathaniel Meloon both from the Smith’s Corner area. Later called McAlister Bridge. Still in existence. Replaced likely quite a few times.
Would like images of the old bridge and dates it was replaced and other additional information.
1777- Built over the Blackwater on the Center Rangeway. Built by Capt. Iddo Scribner of Scribner’s Corner. The Center Rangeway no longer exists in its entirety, if it ever did. The bridge likely was on Scribner Road east of Scribner’s Corners. It was destroyed by the destructive of Hurricane of 1938, causing this area to lose easy direct access to Salisbury Heights. It was not rebuilt. During that time the population had dwindled to under 400 people townwide and so there were other priorities and concerns and “denser” population clusters and different traffic patterns and needs. Photos needed.
For more information and links about the 1938 Hurricane please visit on our website:
https://www.salisburyhistoricalsociety.org/wicked-weather/
PETER’S BRIDGE
Located close to where the North Rangeway would have crossed had the Rangeway been completed: Peters Bridge was and is in West Salisbury near Plains Road.
Built in 1883 by Plina A. Fellows for $584.39-using local help who were working out taxes.-Covered Bridges Can talk by Lewis A. Harlow
It was likely damaged in the hurricane of 1938 and deemed unsafe around 1944 and replaced
Latest Peter’s bridge. Slightly different location than original.The area is prone to high waters
1893-PINGREE BRIDGE
Built over the powerful Blackwater carrying Mountain Road over the River. Junction of West Salisbury Road and Mountain Road. It had a 77 foot span, wrought iron, pin connected, Pratt pony truss superstructure on full height stone and concrete abutments.
1989- Rehabilitated to 10 ton capacity.
May 2006- Bridge condition forces reducing the weight to 3 Tons
June 2006- Brought back up to 10 tons by the NHDOT. Traffic 75 vehicles per day. The following images are from a Project Booklet:
September 2008-
The Engineering Study Report
Pingee Bridge Mountain Road over the Blackwater, prepared by VHB/Vanasse Hangen Bruslin, Inc. of Bedford NH
Plan options for the new bridge and engineering drawings and studies were included. The bridge was indeed replaced.
One lane bridge looking East
Condition of old bridge.
DOUBLE BRIDGES no longer in existence. These bridges are a mystery. More information neede.
Unclear if this view is from up or down river.
The question is why were such elaborate bridges built? Early records indicate that in the earliest settlement there was a mill across the river from Bay Road at his site.
Needed is an old map of the area that precedes 1800 to shed light on the old traffic patterns.
These two bridges crossed the Blackwater River which forked around the island after “the Bays”. They were located just a small distance north of the junction of West Salisbury Road and Bay Road. by the old mill on Bay Road. Dates unclear. A study of early Andover Roads into West Salisbury might explain the two bridges.
We can also assume there were smaller bridges in place from the earliest days over larger streams and raging brooks:
- South Rangeway (rte 127): over Stirrup Iron Brook, site of several sequential mills for over 100 years.
- South Rangeway (rte 127): as it crosses Beaver Dam Brook south of where a mill once existed.
- Center Rangeway area at Loverin and Hensmith: a mill existed on the stream there so likely a small bridge existed.
- Wetlands on Bog Road which in part catches runoff from Searles Hill and was once a traveled road. It likely had a small bridge.
- Mill brook in the floodplain may have had a small bridge as well.