Covered Bridges of New Hampshire

by Kim Varney Chandler

Imprint: Peter E. Randall Publisher

288 Pages, 8 x 10 in, 153 color images

Paperback
9781942155522
November 2022
In Stock

$39.95

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A well-illustrated history of New Hampshire's covered bridges.

An engaging and well-illustrated history of the covered bridges in New Hampshire, featuring historical photos of each bridge paired with color images.

The author partnered with bridgewrights, timber framers, bridge engineers, historical societies, town offices, libraries, state and national organizations, and community members to compile extensive histories of each bridge. There are over 60 authentic covered bridges in New Hampshire; 46 of which are over a century old. These bridges exist today solely because of the efforts of a small but powerful community who both recognized their significance and honored their tradition. These covered bridges are an integral part of the fabric of New Hampshire’s history, but each bridge has its own story to tell. Some have stood sentry over their waterways without incident; others have risen like a phoenix from the ashes after a tragedy took them down.

The covered bridges serve as touchstones, providing a link from here to there and from then to now. These are their stories.

Kim Varney Chandler is a researcher, amateur genealogist, photographer, bird watcher, and dog lover. She is a two-time graduate of the University of New Hampshire (’91, ’96G), where her love of history began in Professor Charles Clark’s classroom in Horton Hall. But rather than boldly changing majors, she settled on a history minor instead. Her love of history has been nothing more than a hobby with which to annoy friends and family. Until now.

Kim is a member of the New Hampshire Humanities Speaker’s Bureau and travels through New Hampshire, delivering programs about covered bridges in the Granite State. She is a life member of the National Society for the Preservation of Covered Bridges and a member of the New Hampshire Historical Society, the New Hampshire Preservation Alliance, the Historical Society of Cheshire County, and the Hancock Historical Society. In addition to numerous awards, Kim has received extensive press coverage for Covered Bridges of New Hampshire, including a feature piece on WMUR-TV’s New Hampshire Chronicle.

When not immersed in the past, Kim works as a high school counselor and commits an inordinate amount of time to volunteer work. Kim is a life-long resident of New Hampshire, except for two stints living south of the Mason-Dixon.

While there have been many books written about New Hampshire’s covered bridges over the years, this one is by far the most comprehensive. Kim has thoroughly researched each bridge and provided documentation to support, and sometimes correct, the stories found in other books and periodicals.
~Bill Caswell, National Society for the Preservation of Covered Bridges

I have provided engineering services for many historic covered bridges in New Hampshire. Kim’s extensive research and passion for covered bridges is evident in her writing and has provided me with a much greater insight into the history of New Hampshire’s covered bridges. ~Sean T. James/ Hoyle, Tanner & Associates, Inc.

Kim has thoroughly investigated the building and work on covered bridges as well as many other important facts about these historic structures that seem to be getting lost in the fast society of today. She has also chronicled personal information and stories pertaining to the folklore surrounding the centuries of authentic covered bridge building. I am keenly anticipating the reading of the book.
~Arnold M. Graton/ Master Covered Bridgewright