LOCAL BOOKSHELF 'Covered Bridges of New Hampshire' by Kim Varney Chandler

Kim Varney Chandler begins her book, "Covered Bridges of New Hampshire," in the state's southwest corner and moves northward and eventually east, capturing local history, one bridge and town at a time. &emsp;&emsp;Starting with the Ashuelot Bridge, Chandler tells the story of "over sixty authentic covered bridges in New Hampshire, forty-six of which are over a century old." &emsp;&emsp;This is what remains in a state that "was once home to over three hundred covered bridges." &emsp;&emsp;Chandler, a resident of Hancock, home to the Hancock-Greenfield Bridge, has spent years compiling extensive information for "Covered Bridges of New Hampshire," even traveling the state to visit and photograph them. Glorious color photographs, as well as historical photographs of the bridges, are included in her book. &emsp;&emsp;From the architectural design of covered bridges to who built them, paid for them, and repaired them, "Covered Bridges" is a thorough and detailed history. Chandler includes illustrations to show which style of truss was used in building the individual bridges and a Things to Know section at the beginning of the book, so the reader knows what a truss is, along with other frequently used terminology. Chandler effectively illustrates the level of care involved in the preservation of the bridges. &emsp;&emsp;Indeed, she writes in her introduction, "by the mid-twentieth century, a movement began toward not only preserving these historic structures but employing nineteenth-century craftsmanship to do so." &emsp;&emsp;The initial work and designs of these bridges are awe-inspiring, but the commitment to preserve the remaining bridges in the state is just as remarkable. &emsp;&emsp;Chandler credits the bridges' continued survival to "the efforts of a small but powerful community who both recognize their significance and honored their tradition, people who refused to let a steel and concrete bridge replace their history." &emsp;&emsp;Here in the Monadnock Region, Chandler brings fascinating local history to life through the covered bridges. &emsp;&emsp;In 1930 the West Swanzey Bridge, also known as the Thompson Bridge, gained attention when "Henry Ford (1863-1947), founder of the Ford Motor Company, attempted to purchase the bridge and relocate it to his Greenfield Village Museum in Dearborn, Michigan." In the early 1970s, this same bridge required the school bus to drop children off, cross the bridge on foot, and wait for the empty bus to pass through and pick them up on the other side! These local stories woven throughout the book bring "Covered Bridges of New Hampshire" to life. Pick up bio.