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The Covered Bridge
The Newfield Covered Bridge was built in 1851-1853 at a total cost of $800.
The bridge crosses the West branch of the Cayuga Inlet and was dedicated to
Elijah Moore, who was the son of an early settler. It's 115 feet long and 16
feet wide. The bridge was covered to protect it from natural elements because
it's cheaper to replace the roof then to rebuild a new bridge every 20 years.
Many of the men who helped to build the bridge have descendents who still live
in Newfield today. When the bridge was first built it had solid siding along
the length of the bridge, but later diamond-shaped windows were cut to let light
in. It's also been said that the town was going to pay $200 to an artist to
paint a mural like ones on famous covered bridges in Luzern, Switzerland on
the bridge, but the artist died and the committee failed to agree on a replacement
and the Civil War ended the decoration plan. In 1969 the bridge was saved from
being torn down by Grant and Marie Musser who are known as the "Keepers
of the Bridge." There have been two reconstructions of the bridge. The
first reconstruction took place in 1972, just in time for Newfield's Sesquicentennial
Celebration where the bridge was raised one foot and other replacements of timber
were made. The latest reconstruction took place in the spring of 1998 in which
the surroundings were beautified, and the banks landscaped. 80% of the funds
for the reconstruction came from the federal Intermodal Surface Transportation
Enhancement Act. The remaining 20% came from the town of Newfield.
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Early photograph of Newfield showing the covered bridge. The sign posted over the entrance to the bridge reminded people to slow their horses as they crossed the bridge. |
Historical marker at the site of the covered bridge. |
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An inside view of the covered bridge shows the truss work. This style of truss was known as a Town Lattice Truss. (Photo by G. Emerson) |
This page by Breanna Grant
Sources:
Finley, George M., et. al. Newfield-- 150 Years, (1822-1972), (Ithaca, NY: Art Craft of Ithaca, Inc., 1972), pp. 35-39; available at the Newfield Historical Society; this provided much of the information about the history of the bridge.
"Newfield Covered Bridge Rededication, August, 8, 1998." This is a pamphlet kept in the files about the Covered Bridge at the Newfield Historical Society.
Photos courtesy of the Newfield Historical Society located on Main Street in Newfield, NY.
