The Squam River Landing Blog discusses topics relating to sustainable design principles, green building trends, and energy efficiency products, as well as relevant stories and events local to the Squam Lake region and White Mountains of New Hampshire.
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It was an uncharacteristic winter season for the Lakes Region of New Hampshire with the lack of snow and mild temperatures. The long winter is now coming to a close as we at the marina change gears and prepare for another spring and summer on the Squam Lakes. To get you excited about summer we figured we would show you a video of a Squam Lake sunset!
Covered bridges have long been a symbol of New England and its rustic history. At one time more than 10,000 covered bridges stood throughout the United States but that number has since dropped to 750, 54 of which still stand in New Hampshire. The Squam River Bridge in Ashland is one such bridge that stands in the Lakes Region.
The origin of the Squam River Bridge is an interesting one. It started when the state of New Hampshire condemned the former steel and concrete bridge. Rather than building a two-lane steel structure as proposed by the state, Ashland”s citizens steered the project in a new direction. The town instead voted for a one-lane lattice-truss wooden bridge and raised the necessary funds to make the idea a reality. The Town of Ashland allocated $35,000 for the building of the new bridge. The remaining funds were raised by direct contributions and fundraising events through the Ashland Historical Society.
The Squam River Bridge was constructed in 1990 by Milton Graton and Sons. As a resident of Ashland and a self-taught expert on New England”s covered bridges, Milton Graton was the right man slots pokies for the job. Using a team of oxen for the build, Graton and his crew replicated the traditional construction methods for covered bridges. The Squam River Bridge was officially dedicated on July 1, 1990.
We at Squam River Landing and Riveredge Marina have a strong connection and appreciation for the landmark that our community worked so hard to create. Being locally funded and sustainably built, the Squam River Bridge is a perfect example of how a small community can come together and work independently to make great things happen.
For more information and a list of New Hampshire”s covered bridges click here.
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