Burkeville Covered Bridge
Also known as: Conway Covered Bridge
Approximate location: the National Park Service places this pin arbitrarily within the property, not at a surveyed point (stated accuracy ±12 m).
Why it's listed
Spanning the South River in the former mill village of Burkeville, in Conway, Massachusetts, this 106-foot covered bridge was built in 1870-71 to replace an earlier span weakened by the great flood of October 1869. Town records show carpenter Sylvanus P. Sherman received the largest share of payments for the work, and he may also have designed it. The bridge uses a multiple kingrod truss, in which paired wrought-iron rods work with timber diagonals, and it is the only example of that truss type in the state. It is one of only five historic-period covered bridges in Massachusetts and the oldest known combination timber and iron truss there. It also served the village and carried milk and produce from farms in the Poland district. Repairs came in 1940, the early 1960s and 1975, when volunteers rebuilt a roof that collapsed under snow. Traffic has been barred since 1985.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the bridge is one of only five historic-period covered bridges in Massachusetts and the only example of the multiple kingrod truss in the state. It is also the oldest known combination timber and iron truss in the state. It is closely tied to the development of Burkeville village and the town.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 88001456, listed September 9, 1988. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Main Poland Rd. over South River, Conway |
|---|---|
| County | Franklin County |
| Listed | September 9, 1988 |
| Reference number | 88001456 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1870-1938 |
| Architect / builder | Sherman, Sylvanus P. |
| Architectural style | Other; Multiple Kingrod Truss |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Engineering, Transportation |
| Level of significance | State, Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Closed to vehicular traffic by the State in 1985 until the bridge is strengthened or heavy vehicles are barred; listed as vacant/not in use. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.48374, -72.71171 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 88001456.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4998985
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.