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Tilton Island Park Bridge

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United States historic place
Tilton Island Park Bridge
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Tilton Island Park Bridge is located in New HampshireTilton Island Park BridgeShow map of New HampshireTilton Island Park Bridge is located in the United StatesTilton Island Park BridgeShow map of the United States
LocationTilton Island Park, Tilton, New Hampshire
Coordinates43°26′32″N 71°35′13″W / 43.44222°N 71.58694°W / 43.44222; -71.58694
Arealess than one acre
Built1881 (1881)
ArchitectTruesdell, Lucius E.; Briggs, Albert D.
Architectural styleTruesdell Truss
NRHP reference No.80000268
Added to NRHPMarch 21, 1980

The Tilton Island Park Bridge is a foot bridge in Tilton, New Hampshire. It spans a portion of the Winnipesaukee River just east of downtown Tilton, providing access to Tilton Island Park, located on an island in the river. Built in 1881, it is a rare surviving example of a bridge with cast iron components, designed by a distinctive patent issued in 1858 to Lucius Truesdell. The bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.

Description and history

The Tilton Island Park Bridge is located at the eastern end of downtown Tilton, extending from the northwest shore of the Winnipesaukee River to the wooded Tilton Island Park. It consists of two Truesdell truss spans, which rest on granite abutments and a central granite pier. The bridge is 85 feet (26 m) in length, and 10 feet (3.0 m) wide. Its trusses are made of cast iron, using a patented design similar to that of Ithiel Town for wooden lattice bridges. The principal innovation in Lucius Truesdell's 1858 patent was the clamps which fix the lattice members together where they cross, providing additional rigidity, and a series of horizontal and vertical members which are integrated into the diagonal lattice members. The decking of the bridge is wooden planking laid over crossbeams that rest directly on the lowest truss members. The decking is stabilized by diagonal bracing tie rods fastened beneath these elements.

The bridge was manufactured by A. D. Briggs & Company and installed in 1881 by J. R. Smith. It, along with the park, was a gift to the town by Charles Tilton. Albert Briggs, the builder, apparently specialized in the construction of Truesdell patent bridges; this is one of the few of the design known to survive. It is also rare for its survival despite the use of cast iron, which later gave way to more weather-safe wrought iron and steel.

The park was closed some time in late 2021 due to structural concerns about the bridge.

See also

References

  1. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. ^ "NRHP nomination for Tilton Island Park Bridge". National Park Service. Retrieved 2014-08-22.
  3. Closure https://www.google.com/maps/@43.4429184,-71.5868465,3a,60y,124h,74.57t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1svVQdoYgbw60X88wRA_y1eA!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3DvVQdoYgbw60X88wRA_y1eA%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D113.51492%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192
National Register of Historic Places in Belknap County, New Hampshire
Historic districts Belknap County map
Historic properties
See also: National Register of Historic Places listings in Belknap County, New Hampshire and List of National Historic Landmarks in New Hampshire
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