Manmade structures in Maine suffer harsh winters, with snow and ice eating away at their wood, but the Bennett Bridge is a hardy reminder of the endurance of covered bridges. Spanning 92 feet (28 meters) across the Magalloway River, the Bennett Bridge has seen more than 115 Maine winters come and go since it was built in 1901.
Bridges like this once dotted Maine’s hinterland their cladding protected the essential beams and pillars of a bridge and could quintuple its lifespan, but today, only nine of the original 126 still stand. Cars have been kept off this bridge since 1985. Visit Bennett Bridge today to admire the craftsmanship and get a sense of area history.
From the approach on the road, once used to carry logs between logging camps and processing plants at nearby Wilsons Mills, notice how much the construction resembles the hardy barns standing on the region’s small farms.
Stop and step out of the car, listening for the quiet rush of the river flowing over the rocks below. Peek into the water to spot the granite abutments, ferried here in 1898 from the closest material source over 26 miles (42 kilometers) away.
Step onto the structure, where the crossed beams of the bridge stand protected by the outer covering. Admire how the light filters through the gap between the outdoor cladding and the roof, providing just enough space to keep the bridge navigable but not let in snow on a wintry day.
Bennett Bridge is located practically near the border between New Hampshire and Maine, just a little south of Canada. Drive from Portland in about 2.5 hours or from Bangor or Concord, New Hampshire, in 3. Montreal and Burlington, Vermont, are about 3.5 hours away. The bridge has no officially designated parking, but since the structure is now pedestrian-only, it is fairly easy to stop briefly in front. The area has no public transportation connections, so a private vehicle is necessary to be able to travel to the bridge.
