Shushan Bridge
Encyclopedia
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.
It was built in 1858 by builder Milton Stevens.
Town and Howe truss designs were patented by Ithiel Town
in 1820 and William Howe (architect)
in 1840, respectively. The Shushan Bridge employs "the patented Town lattice truss, consisting of top and bottom chords of laminated wood plank, and a web of diagonal wood planks connected by wood trunnels at each point of intersection".
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 Rexleigh Bridge
, and Eagleville Bridge
. All four were listed on the National Register of Historic Places on March 8, 1972.
The Shushan bridge was closed to traffic in 1962, and was left abandoned for 10 years, then saved by local preservation efforts. Now it is operated as a seasonal museum.
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 the hamlet of Shushan
Shushan, New York
Shushan is a hamlet in the town of Salem in Washington County, New York, United States. It is in the eastern region of the state, located four miles west of the Vermont border. Its ZIP code is 12873....
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...
, near Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
. It is one of 29 surviving historic covered bridges in New York State, and one of 4 surviving in Washington County.
It was built in 1858 by builder Milton Stevens.
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 Shushan Bridge employs "the patented Town lattice truss, consisting of top and bottom chords of laminated wood plank, and a web of diagonal wood planks connected by wood trunnels at each point of intersection".
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 Rexleigh Bridge
Rexleigh Bridge
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....
, and 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....
. All four were listed on the National Register of Historic Places on March 8, 1972.
The Shushan bridge was closed to traffic in 1962, and was left abandoned for 10 years, then saved by local preservation efforts. Now it is operated as a seasonal museum.