Travelling Photographer

Durgin Covered Bridge

The Durgin Covered Bridge spans the Cold River in Sandwich, NH, and has been the town’s only remaining covered bridge since the Taylor Bridge was removed in 1903. After earlier bridges at the site were destroyed by repeated floods, the current bridge was rebuilt in 1869 by Jacob Berry. Berry removed the center pier and raised the bridge significantly to protect it from future flooding. In 1966, Milton S. Graton and his son Arnold strengthened the Durgin Covered Bridge with laminated arches rather than the proposed steel beams. Additional repairs followed in 1984.

Beede Falls

The falls are hidden down a little-traveled dirt road that extends from Sandwich, NH, to Waterville Valley. The main falls itself is a 35-foot-wide horsetail cascading down a smooth rock face before plunging into a 50-foot-wide pool below. The pool is typically calf- or knee-deep, and you can sometimes squeeze behind the falls. The pool is drained by two lazy rivers that merge back together shortly downstream.

Squam Covered Bridge

Squam River Covered Bridge is a one-lane covered bridge in Ashland, New Hampshire, spanning the Squam River at the outlet of Little Squam Lake. Built and dedicated in 1990 by Milton Graton and Sons, the 61-foot town lattice truss replaced a condemned steel and concrete span after local fundraising secured a single-lane covered bridge. A pedestrian walkway on the Little Squam side offers lake and river views.  

Blair Covered Bridge

Built in 1870 by Hiram W. Merrill for $3,350, the Blair Covered Bridge spans the Pemigewasset River in Campton. The 293-foot, two-span Long truss with arches replaced an earlier bridge destroyed by arson in 1869. Major rehabilitation in 1977 was completed by Milton S. and Arnold M. Graton, repairing the deteriorated corners, replacing the floor joists, and reinforcing the granite abutments.

Compton Falls

Beebe River Falls, also known as Campton Falls or Beebe River Falls, is a tiered waterfall on the Beebe River in Campton in New Hampshire’s White Mountains. A broad block-style central drop sits within a pine-and-hemlock gorge, with a cumulative descent of about 36 feet and a crest roughly 55 feet wide. Visitors reach the falls from a roadside pullout (which will bottom out your car) on Route 175 and follow a short, fairly steep path or scramble to reach viewing areas; be advised: wet, rocky, and slippery.

Turkey Jim Covered Bridge

Built around 1885 by local carpenter Elijah Mitchell Jr. for $433.69, the Turkey Jim’s Bridge spans West Branch Brook in Campton, NH. The 61-foot Queenpost truss was reconstructed in 1958 by Milton S. Graton for $3,700, using modified trusses and salvaged timber.

The bridge was washed from its abutments by flooding in 1973, 1988, and again during Tropical Storm Irene in 2011. Following the 2011 flood, Stanley E. Graton of 3G Construction rebuilt the bridge using salvaged and replacement timber and raised the abutments three feet.