Rexleigh Bridge
Encyclopedia
Rexleigh Bridge is a wooden covered bridge
over the Batten Kill
in Washington County, New York
. It is one of 29 historic covered bridges in New York State.
Town and Howe truss designs were patented by Ithiel Town
in 1820 and William Howe (architect)
in 1840, respectively. The Rexleigh Bridge employs "the patented Howe truss, with paired diagonal timbers, single timber counters, and multiple vertical iron rods defining each truss panel. The diagonals and verticals are connected to the upper and lower chords by means of cast-iron bearing blocks." Those bearing blocks are "embossed with the name of their manufacturer, 'R. Comins, Troy, N.Y.,'" and, although the timber used is local, the bridge "appears to be a rare surviving example of this type of prefabricated nineteenth-century bridge construction."
It was individually inventoried by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation in 1977.
It is one of four Washington County covered bridges submitted for listing in the National Register of Historic Places
in one multiple property submission. The others are the Buskirk Bridge
, the Eagleville Bridge
, and Shushan Bridge
. All four were listed on the National Register of Historic Places on March 8, 1972.
Covered bridge
A covered bridge is a bridge with enclosed sides and a roof, often accommodating only a single lane of traffic. Most covered bridges are wooden; some newer ones are concrete or metal with glass sides...
over the Batten Kill
Batten Kill
The Batten Kill, or Battenkill, or the Battenkill River, is a river rising in Vermont that flows into New York and is a tributary of the Hudson River....
in Washington County, New York
Washington County, New York
Washington County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. It is part of the Glens Falls, New York, Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2010 census, the population was 63,216. It was named for the Revolutionary War general George Washington...
. It is one of 29 historic covered bridges in New York State.
Town and Howe truss designs were patented by Ithiel Town
Ithiel Town
Ithiel Town was a prominent American architect and civil engineer. One of the first generation of professional architects in the United States, Town made significant contributions to American architecture in the first half of the 19th century. He was high-strung, sophisticated, generous,...
in 1820 and William Howe (architect)
William Howe (architect)
William Howe, born in 1803 in Spencer, Massachusetts, was an American bridge builder. He patented the Howe Truss design for covered bridges in 1840...
in 1840, respectively. The Rexleigh Bridge employs "the patented Howe truss, with paired diagonal timbers, single timber counters, and multiple vertical iron rods defining each truss panel. The diagonals and verticals are connected to the upper and lower chords by means of cast-iron bearing blocks." Those bearing blocks are "embossed with the name of their manufacturer, 'R. Comins, Troy, N.Y.,'" and, although the timber used is local, the bridge "appears to be a rare surviving example of this type of prefabricated nineteenth-century bridge construction."
It was individually inventoried by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation in 1977.
It is one of four Washington County covered bridges submitted for listing in the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in one multiple property submission. The others are the Buskirk Bridge
Buskirk Bridge
Buskirk Bridge is a wooden covered bridge and is the name of the hamlet in which it is located. It is in the town of Hoosick. The bridge, which crosses the Hoosic River is one of 29 historic covered bridges in New York State....
, the Eagleville Bridge
Eagleville Bridge
Eagleville Bridge is a covered bridge located at Eagleville in the towns of Jackson and Salem, Washington County, New York. The bridge, which crosses the Battenkill, is one of 29 historic covered bridges in New York State....
, and Shushan Bridge
Shushan Bridge
Shushan Bridge is a covered bridge over the Batten Kill in the hamlet of Shushan in Washington County, New York, near Vermont. It is one of 29 surviving historic covered bridges in New York State, and one of 4 surviving in Washington County....
. All four were listed on the National Register of Historic Places on March 8, 1972.