Bull's Bridge
| Bull's Bridge | |
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Traffic on Bull's Bridge crossing the Housatonic River
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| Coordinates | 41°40′32″N 73°30′34″W / 41.67556°N 73.50944°WCoordinates: 41°40′32″N 73°30′34″W / 41.67556°N 73.50944°W |
| Carries | Bull's Bridge Road |
| Crosses | Housatonic River |
| Locale | Kent, Connecticut |
| Official name | Bridge No. 4453 |
| Maintained by | Connecticut Department of Transportation |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Lattice truss bridge |
| Material | wood |
| Total length | 33.2 metres (109 ft) |
| History | |
| Opened | 1842 |
| Statistics | |
| Toll | None |
Bull's Bridge is a single-lane vehicular wooden covered bridge across the Housatonic River in the town of Kent, Connecticut, close to the state border with New York. The first instance of a bridge at this location was constructed by Jacob and Isaac Bull in 1760, which gave the bridge its name. Popular legend suggests that George Washington crossed the bridge with the Bull's assistance while still under construction. The current bridge was built in 1842 from timber, with additional supports added in the 19th and 20th centuries. Built with a Town lattice design, the bridge has reinforced trusswork visible on the interior. At the time of its nomination to the National Register of Historic Places the roof had wood shingles. It is historically significant as one of three surviving covered bridges in Connecticut, and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972.
The bridge is 109 feet (33 m) long and crosses the Housatonic River in the northwest corner of the state, half a mile from the border with New York State. The main highway, US Route 7 is close to the bridge and runs parallel with the river along western Connecticut. Unlike the majority of the state, the area is predominantly woodland and popular for hiking and watersports. It is downstream from a hydroelectric dam outlet to the river, and the prominence of waterfalls and rapids makes it a popular tourist route.
The bridge is one of only three existing public highway covered bridges remaining in Connecticut and one of two currently in service for motor vehicles. Automobile traffic is restricted to one lane, which has prevented a problem for pedestrians attempting to cross it. Despite its rarity, it has survived due to its ability to handle heavy loads and its sound construction. The presence of a cover helps solve the problem of the wooden bridge floor gradually deteriorating due to the weather, while its high crossing point above the river means it is less susceptible to erosion by spring freshets.
There has been a crossing of the Housatonic River in this location since the 18th century. The first recorded instance of a bridge was in 1760 by Jacob Bull and his son, Isaac. It was originally used to transport pig iron from Bull's foundry to Poughkeepsie, New York and constructed from timber and hardware produced by Bull's sawmill and furnace. Bull chose the location because it was the narrowest point of the river in the area. According to Peter C. Vermilyea, author of Hidden History of Litchfield County, instead states it was built to transport iron ore during the American Revolutionary War. While account conflicts with the earlier 1760 construction and use, it was likely the date is accurate of another construction. Vermilyea cites that the average lifespan of these bridges were seven to ten years, so it is not known for certain if it was a reconstruction. Vermilyea states that it was built to transport iron ore from Newburgh, New York to Hartford, Connecticut. Other constructions were likely to have continued, historian Shelley Wong writes, "The [current] bridge was one of several built across the gorge over the years as flooding and ice took their toll."
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