Gilsum Stone Arch Bridge

Heading north on NH State Route 10 from Keene is the Cheshire County town of Gilsum. Chartered in 1763 to the Gilbert and Sumner families, one of the things that Gilsum is best known for is its stone arch bridge over the Ashuelot River, which was built in 1863 without the use of mortar. With an arch that averages 36'-6" above the river, the Gilsum Stone Arch Bridge has the highest vault of any dry laid bridge in the State of New Hampshire.

A historical plaque greets visitors to the bridge and gives a little background about its history.

View of the bridge from the western bank of the Ashuelot River, which gives you a good idea of the height of the bridge.

Another view of the bridge that crosses the Ashuelot. I find the arch to be rather impressive.

View of Surry Rd., which is the thoroughfare that the bridge carries in modern times. At the end of Surry Rd. is NH 10.

View of the Ashuelot River gorge, looking south from the bridge.

View of the Ashuelot River gorge, looking north from the bridge.

Gilsum is also home of the Gilsum Rock Swap and is the town where the mother of Joseph Smith, the founder of the Mormon faith, was born.

Sources and Links:
Bridgehunter - Gilsum Stone Arch Bridge
Roadside History: Gilsum Stone Arch Bridge
American Whitewater - Ashuelot River
Gilsum Recreation Committee - Town of Gilsum, New Hampshire
Ware Family Association - Gilsum, New Hampshire

How to Get There:

Comments

Tulare Lake returns

During the winter of 2023 California experienced one of the wettest seasons in recent decades. Enough snow and water were deposited into the Sierra Nevada Mountains that the runoff was enough to partially reform Tulare Lake within San Joaquin Valley. Tulare Lake was once the largest lake west of the Mississippi River by surface area. Tulare Lake has been largely dried for the past century due to irrigation divisions and upstream impoundments. This blog will examine the history of Tulare Lake and its recent return. Pictured as the blog cover is Tulare Lake from 19th Avenue in Kings County during early May 2023. Tulare Lake can be seen near its maximum extent below on the 1876 P.Y. Baker Map of Tulare County . Part 1; the history of Tulare Lake Tulare Lake is the largest remnant of Lake Corcoran. Lake Corcoran once covered much of the entire Central Valley due to being it being located at a in natural low point from where mountain run-off would accumulate. Lake Corcoran is thou

Former US Route 101 through Sargent

Sargent is a ghost town and siding of the Southern Pacific Railroad located in southern Santa Clara County. The original alignment of US Route 101 was aligned through Sargent via what is now known as Old Monterey Road. Sargent was bypassed gradually due to shifts of the alignment of US Route 101 which occurred during 1941 and 1950. Pictured as the blog cover is a view on Old Monterey Road which is now no longer accessible to the general public. Below is a scan of the 1935 Division of Highways Map of Santa Clara County which depicts the original alignment US Route 101 through Sargent. Part 1; the history of US Route 101 in Sargent Sargent lies on land which was once part of Rancho Juristac. During 1856 James P. Sargent purchased Rancho Juristac and plotted what was known as Sargent Ranch. By 1869 the Southern Pacific Railroad coast line reached the relocated town site of Gilroy. The Southern Pacific Railroad coast line would be constructed through Chittenden Pass by 1871 whic

California State Route 60/Former US Route 60/70 through the Moreno Valley Badlands west to Riverside

This past month I drove California State Route 60 through the Moreno Valley Badlands westward towards the City of Riverside. CA 60 through the Moreno Valley Badlands was once part of the corridors of US Route 60 and US Route 70. The present route of CA 60 is a 70 mile (76 counting multiplex) slice of former US 60 between downtown Los Angeles east to I-10 near Beaumont. The vast majority of CA 60 aside from a small section in the Moreno Valley Badlands is presently a freeway grade. For me CA 60 holds some personal history as it was the route I used most frequently accessing work sites in the Inland Empire circa 2011-2013. Despite what many others probably would say I always really enjoyed the Moreno Valley Badlands portion of CA 60. Considering I frequently worked on US 60 through Arizona and New Mexico the route holds even more appeal. I even have a CA 60 shield hanging up in my garage. Part 1; History of Roadways in the Moreno Valley Badlands CA 60 between B

Gribblenation

Search This Blog