Smith, Arthur A., Covered Bridge
Why it's listed
Spanning the North River at Lyonsville in Colrain, this 100-foot wooden covered bridge was first built in 1869-70 at Shattuckville, where it was known as the Fox Bridge. Flood damage in 1878 left it unsafe, and in 1896 the town re-erected it at its present site, renaming it for local citizen Arthur A. Smith, a Civil War captain and Colrain officeholder. Its structure combines a multiple king post truss with laminated Burr arches added in 1920 so that heavier loads from a cider and vinegar company could cross. The bridge carried vinegar kegs to the railroad, gave access to a Baptist church and nearby homes, and formed part of the road to Heath. The nomination identifies it as one of four surviving covered bridges in Massachusetts and the only one using Burr truss construction. It has a slate-shingled gable roof and vertical board sheathing. At the time of nomination it was closed for repairs.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it one of four surviving covered bridges in Massachusetts and the only one built with Burr truss construction. It keeps its integrity despite the move and is tied to the development of Colrain, serving mills, a cider and vinegar business, a church and the road to Heath. It was renamed for a locally prominent citizen when moved.
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 83000592, listed February 3, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | W of Colrain on Lyonsville Rd, Colrain |
|---|---|
| County | Franklin County |
| Listed | February 3, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83000592 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | Specific dates: built 1868-70; moved 1896 |
| Architectural style | Multiple king post truss with added laminated Burr arches |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Engineering, Transportation |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Needs repair and was closed to traffic for about the past year; town restoration efforts were started but not completed for lack of funds. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.67011, -72.71880 (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.
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 83000592.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4797770
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.