The small stream flowing out of this lake, the Third Connecticut Lake, is the beginning of the Connecticut River only a short distance from the US/Canada border on Route 3 in Pittsburg, New Hampshire.
Standing on the 1st bridge over the Connecticut River. This is the stream that flows out of the 3rd Connecticut Lake. This concrete bridge was built in 1961.
The 1st bridge
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This is the 2nd bridge over the Connecticut River. The wooden bridge is on Scott Brook Road, a dirt road giving access to remote hunting camps and logging activity.
This is the 2nd bridge over the Connecticut River. The wooden bridge is on a Scott Brook Road, a dirt road giving access to remote hunting camps and logging activity.
The Connecticut River flows into the 2nd Connecticut Lake, a popular spot for fishing and hunting in this remote area.
The flood control dam that creates the 2nd Connecticut Lake. The Connecticut River flows out from a sluice gate. There are many dams along the river for both flood control and electricity generation.
The Connecticut River next flows into the 1st Connecticut Lake. This is the flood control dam at the 1st Connecticut Lake. The river flows out through a sluice gate.
This is the 4th bridge over the Connecticut River. It is on a forest access dirt road. However, it does not appear that much traffic ventures beyond the bridge. Probably just ATVs and snowmobiles.
The Connecticut River as it flows toward the 4th bridge on the river.
Fishermen at the 4th bridge over the Connecticut River.
The Connecticut River flows out of Lake Francis. This building sits on top of the 5th bridge over the Connecticut River. The spillway from Murphy dam flows under it My car is shown. Murphy Dam at Lake Francis, built in 1938, rises high above in the background.
This is the 6th bridge over the Connecticut River. NH Route 145 crosses the river here. This was built in 2006.
View of the Connecticut River as it flows toward the Pittsburg/Clarksville covered bridge.
View of the river flowing toward the 7th bridge, the Pittsburg/Clarksville covered bridge from inside the bridge..
Woodwork on the 7th bridge, the Pittsburg/Clarksville covered bridge. Built in 1876.
Looking toward the Pittsburg side of the Pittsburg/Clarksville covered bridge. The bridge no longer carries traffic and remains a tourist attraction.
Entry to the Indian Stream Valley north of Route 3 in Pittsburg, NH. This valley was the independent Indian Stream Republic briefly in the 1830s. It was created when both Canada and the US claimed the area and both tried to tax the residents and conscript men into their armies. A brief summary of the Republic can be found on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic_of_Indian_Stream
Today there a small number of farms and some seasonal homes and hunting cabins in the valley.
This is the 8th bridge across the Connecticut River. Here US Route 3, the main thoroughfare in Pittsburg, NH, crosses the river. This bridge was built in 1931. It is the last bridge solely in New Hampshire.
The Connecticut River is still flowing from the east to the west at this point. This is the 9th bridge to cross the river. Beechers Falls, Vermont, is on the left side of the river (north) and Stewartstown, New Hampshire, is on the right side (south). This bridge was built in 1930. Shortly beyond this point the river bends and begins to flow south all the way to the Long Island Sound.
The 10th bridge is this old railroad bridge which crosses the Connecticut River between Canaan, Vermont, and West Stewartstown, New Hampshire. Built about 1903 for the Maine Central Railroad, it is now use only by hikers, ATVs, and snowmobiles. It could use a paint job, just like almost all of the old railroad bridges.
Small dam on the Connecticut River near the old railroad bridge in Canaan, Vermont.
Two photos of bridge #13: the Columbia covered bridge, built in 1912, seen from the Vermont side. The road crosses between Lemington, Vermont, to Columbia, New Hampshire.
My car parked in the canoe launch and small town park on the Connecticut River in North Stratford. I slept Friday night in the car here. Pickup trucks brought canoes and kayaks here in the early morning, rented to various groups planning to head downriver.
Bridge #14: the Vermont Route 105 bridge crossing Between Bloomfield, Vermont, and North Stratford, New Hampshire. Built in 1947. This is the first bridge south of the place where I had spent the night. The flow of the river in this area is perfect for canoes and kayaks.
Bridge #15: the St. Lawrence and Atlantic Railroad bridge that crosses the Connecticut River between Bloomfield, Vermont, and North Stratford, New Hampshire. The rails show some use. This is not a completely abandoned railroad bridge.
Bridge #16: the Janice Peaslee bridge between Maidstone, Vermont, and Stratford, New Hampshire. Rebuilt in 2005.
Bridge #16: the Janice Peaslee bridge between Maidstone, Vermont, and Stratford, New Hampshire. Rebuilt in 2005.
Beautiful agricultural fields on Vermont side of the broad valley near Guildhall, Vermont. The local farms seemed to be mostly growing corn and hay.
Cows waiting for feed at a barn with a new roof on the Vermont side of the broad Connecticut River valley near Guildhall, Vermont.
Farmhouse on Vermont side of the broad Connecticut River valley near Guildhall, Vermont. I couldn't resist taking a photo of this old Sky Chief gas pump next to the farm's porch.
Bridge #17: Guildhall Road bridge. built in 1984, crosses the Connecticut River between Northumberland, New Hampshire, and Guildhall, Vermont.
Remnants of a dam that once existed on the Connecticut River between Guildhall, Vermont, and Northumberland, New Hampshire.
The town green at Guildhall, Vermont.
A bit of town history at Guildhall, Vermont.
Bridges #18 and #19. To the right is the US Route 2 bridge across the Connecticut River that was built in 1950. To the left is construction of a new bridge to replace the old one. These span the river between Guildhall, Vermont, and Lancaster, New Hampshire.
Bridge #19: the US Route 2 bridge across the Connecticut River that was built in 1950. It spans the river between Guildhall, Vermont, and Lancaster, New Hampshire.
Another photo of bridge #19.
Another view of the Mount Orne covered bridge.
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Bridge #21: Twin State Railroad bridge between Dalton, New Hampshire, and South Lunenburg, Vermont, built in 1928.
Another photo of bridge 21.
Bridge #22: the old Whitcomb Bridge between Dalton, New Hampshire, and Gilman, Vermont, built in 1928. Now used only by foot traffic and also snowmobiles in the winter.
Bridges #22 and #23: two bridges between Dalton, New Hampshire, and Gilman, Vermont. The old Whitcomb Bridge was built in 1928 and the new one in 1997.
Bridge #23: the new bridge between Dalton, New Hampshire, and Gilman, Vermont, built in 1997.
Bridge #24: the Route 18 bridge across the Connecticut River between Littleton, New Hampshire, and Lower Waterford, Vermont, built in 1934. The river is wide and calm here because there is a dam not far downstream.
Bridges #25 and #26: one for I-93 north and one for I-93 south. Built in 1976 and 1981. They span the river between Littleton, New Hampshire, and Waterford, Vermont. They are just south of the Route 18 bridge.
Train station at Inwood, Vermont. This was on a main line of the Boston & Maine Railroad. There are boxcars on a siding. I think it has been years since the red signal last occurred.
Bridge #28: the Barnet Road bridge, built in 1930, spans the Connecticut River between Barnet, Vermont, and Monroe, New Hampshire.
Another view of bridge #28.
Bridge #29: the Frazier Road bridge across the Connecticut River betweenMcIndoe Falls, Vermont and Monroe, New Hampshire. Listed as built in 1937 but it appears to have been replaced or at least repainted recently.
The McIndoes Falls dam on the Connecticut River. Built in 1931. There is no road across the top.
Bridges #30 and #31: The old Wells River bridge of the Boston & Maine Railroad crossing the Connecticut River between Wells River, Vermont, and Woodsville, New Hampshire. The upper deck carried trains. The lower deck once had a road, but only the cross beams that supported it remain in place. Just beyond it is the US 302 bridge.
Bridge #31: The US 302 bridge over the Connecticut River between Wells River, Vermont, and Woodsville, New Hampshire, built in 1923. Bridge #30 is visible a little north of this bridge.
Bridge #32: the Newbury Crossing Road bridge across the Connecticut River between Newbury, Vermont, and Haverhill, New Hampshire. Approaching from the New Hampshire side.
Bridge #32: the Newbury Crossing Road bridge across the Connecticut River between Newbury, Vermont, and Haverhill, New Hampshire. Approaching from the Vermont side.
The central pier that held the old Bedell Bridge between South Newbury, Vermont, and Haverhill, New Hampshire. The bridge had originally been built in 1805 and then rebuilt in 1823, 1862, 1866, and 1979.
Bridge #34: the Morey Memorial Bridge carrying route 25A over the Connecticut River between Orford, New Hampshire, and Fairlee, Vermont. Built in 1937 to replace an older wooden bridge.
Another view of bridge #35.
Bridge #38: the railroad bridge across the Connecticut River between West Lebanon, New Hampshire, and White River Junction, Vermont. The shiny rails indicate that this is used occasionally although there is no passenger traffic.
Bridge #40
Bridge #40: Two bridges carry I-89 across the Connecticut River between Lebanon, New Hampshire, and Hartford, Vermont. This is the best view of eastbound bridge #40. In early winter, with all leaves off the trees, there will be a better view.
Bridge #41: the Cornish Windsor bridge sits behind this historical marker. As stated, this is the longest two-span covered bridge in the world. Built in 1866 it can carry auto in both directions.
Bridge #41: the Cornish Windsor bridge, the longest two-span covered bridge in the world. Built in 1866 it can carry auto in both directions. A sign above the entry reads "Walk your horses of pay two dollars fine"
Bridge #41: the Cornish Windsor bridge, the longest two-span covered bridge in the world, built in 1866. Eastbound car leaving Windsor, Vermont, to cross to Cornish, New Hampshire.
Cute painted stones hidden behind the guard rail immediately in fron of the entrance to the Cornish Windsor bridge.
Thursday, August 13, 2020. Bridge #42: New England Central Railroad bridge between Windsor, Vermont, and Cornish, New Hampshire. It took a half mile walk down the tracks to reach the bridge. Shiny rails prove this bridge is used. Repaired roadbed, new ties and rails have recently replaced old ones.
Bridge #42: New England Central Railroad bridge between Winsor, Vermont, and Cornish, New Hampshire. Old iron spike and other iron piece left in the road bed when new rails and ties replaced older ones.
Bridge #43: This bridge, built in 1969, connects Ascutney, Vermont, and Claremont, New Hampshire.
Looking north at the Connecticut River as it flows to bridge #43, the VT & NH Route 12 bridge between Ascutney, Vermont, and Claremont, New Hampshire. There is no access on the land on either side of the rive r here to take a good photo of this bridge. If I had a boat like the fisherman in this photo I would have had a much better photo.
Bridge #43: This bridge, built in 1969, connects Ascutney, Vermont, and Claremont, New Hampshire.
Bridge #45, the Arch Bridge, built in 1984 connecting North Walpole, New Hampshire, with Bellows Falls, Vermont.
Just beyond the white van is bridge #45, the Arch Bridge, built in 1984 connecting North Walpole, New Hampshire, with Bellows Falls, Vermont. It was a hot day and I just had to stop here. So convenient. Social distancing was being practiced to order and get your ice cream.
This structure is the Bellows Falls dam, owned by Great River Hydro.
Bridge #46, the rusted New England Central Railroad bridge. Like bridge #42, the rails indicate that it is in use. The metal structure to the right of the bridge is the Bellows Falls dam.
Bridge #47, the Stone Arch Bridge, a railroad bridge between Bellows Falls, Vermont, and North Walpole, New Hampshire. Two engines are slowly moving from right to left to North Walpole..
Bridge #48. The Vilas Bridge between Bellows Falls, Vermont, and North Walpole, New Hampshire. Built in 1930, it has been closed to traffic.
Bridges #50, the new green one in the background and #51, the old rusted bridge between Chesterfield, New Hampshire, and Brattleboro, Vermont.
Bridge #55 is Schell Bridge in Northfield, Massachusetts, a railroad bridge built in 1903 and closed in 1985. The State has wanted to take this bridge down and local friends of the bridge have discussed repairing it for walking and other uses.
Bridge #57 carrying Route 10 over the Connecticut River in Northfield, Massachusetts. Built in 1969.
Bridge #58 is the French King Bridge carrying MA Route 2 between Gill MA and Erving MA. It was built in 1931 and rebuilt in 1992.
September 19, 2020. Bridge #60 is the Turners Falls Road bridge. It was built in 1936 and rebuilt in 2015.
Bridge #62 is the Canalside Rail Trail bridge between Deerfield and Montague MA. One of its trusses, built in 1880, is the oldest still spanning part of the Connecticut River. The other two trusses were built in 1936 after the great Connecticut River flood. The trail that now uses this bridge was opened in 2008.
Bridge #64 is Sunderland bridge carrying Massachusetts route 116 between Deerfield and Sunderland MA. It was built in 1937 and reconstructed in 1994.
The flat farming land in the Pioneer Valley around Hadley Massachusetts has a history of tobacco farming. These are drying barns. Much of the farming has turned to other crops, but the barns still stand. This is about the northernmost point where tobacco could be grown in North America.
Bridge #70, the Willimansett Bridge carries Massachusetts routes 116 and 141 over the Connecticut River between Holyoke and Chicopee MA. Originally built in 1891, a major renovation project was completed in 2015.
Strangely, I did not take a photo of bridge #72, the Massachsetts Turnpike Bridge between West Springfield and Chicopee MA. I will add a photo here after my next trip.
Bridge #74 is the Arthur J. McKenna Bridge (also known as the North End Bridge), built in 1924. I will take a better photo next time.
From this point southward all the bridges across the Connecticut River are in Connecticut.
Bridge #79, the Warehouse Point railroad bridge built in 1903. The Amtrak New Haven to Springfield line crosses the river on this bridge.
Bridge #80, the Bridge Street bridge connects Windsor Locks and East Windsor, Connecticut by CT route 140. This bridge was built in 1992.
Bridge #81, the Dexter Coffin Bridge was built in 1992 and carries I-91 between Windsor Locks and East Windsor Connecticut. I could find no place on either side of the river to take an unobstructed photo.
Bridge #83, the Connecticut Southern Railroad Bridge, was built about 1873. It connects Hartford and East Hartford, Connecticut.
Bridge #86, the Charter Oak Bridge, was built in 1942 and renovated in 1991. US route 5 and CT route 15 cross this bridge between Hartford and East Hartford.
Bridge #87, the William H. Putnam Memorial Bridge, connects Wethersfield and Glastonbury, Connecticut. It was built in 1959 and carries Connecticut Route 3.
Ferry #1. Yes there are two ferries that cross the Connecticut River. This ferry is between Rocky Hill and Glastonbury, Connecticut. While the historical marker says the ferry has been "continuously operated," since 1655, the day I was there the ferry was not operating. So much for "continuous." Note the sign to "Sound your horn" to call the ferry from the other side of the river. Connecticut route 160 uses this ferry.
Bridge #88 is the Arrigoni Bridge that connects Middletown with Portland, Connecticut. It was built in 1938 and carries Connecticut routes 17 and 66 across the river.
Bridge #90 is the East Haddam Bridge, a swing bridge connecting Haddam and East Haddam Connecticut. As I was about to take a picture, the bridge began to swing open to let the boat with outriggers north of the bridge to pass through to the south. This bridge was built in 1913 and carries Connecticut route 82 from one side of the river to the other. The Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam is the large building immediately on the river on the far side.
Ferry #2, the Chester Hadlyme Ferry, connects Chester and Lyme Connecticut. A ferry has been in operation here since 1769. Connecticut route 148 includes this ferry and the ferry can carry a few cars at a time.
Bridge #91, the Raymond E. Baldwin Bridge, carries US I-95 and US route 1 across the river. It was first built in 1948 and expanded in 1993. This is the southernmost highway bridge on the river.
At the end of my journies photographing the bridges (and dams and ferries), the growth of the river is huge. From the first bridge near the first Connecticut Lake near the Canadian border. to its width just beyond the last bridge in Old Saybrook.
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