The Lovejoy Covered Bridge is a historic covered bridge in South Andover, Oxford County, Maine. It is a Paddleford truss bridge, which carries Covered Bridge Road over the Ellis River. Built in 1868, it is one of the few remaining 19th-century covered bridges in the state, and it is the shortest covered bridge in the state.

The Ellis River cuts a meandering course through the town of Andover, joining the Androscoggin River at Rumford Point. There has probably been a bridge at this site in southern Andover since the early 19th century, as the river course narrows sufficiently and provides a crossing point for people traveling between Rumford Point and the main village of Andover, which is located further north. This bridge was built in 1868, but it is known that a small village already existed nearby, suggesting the existence of a previous bridge.

The bridge is 70 feet long and 20 feet wide, with a roadway width of 17 feet and an internal clearance of 14 feet. It rests on abutments built out of large granite blocks. The bridge has a gabled roof, giving it a total height of 22 feet. Its sides are sheathed in vertical boards, and the gable ends have been trimmed. The bridge was reinforced in 1984 to support local traffic.

The bridge’s name comes from the Lovejoy house, which was on the eastern side of the river.

In 1936, the waters were high, and two boys decided to canoe near the bridge. Water was a few inches below the bottom of the bridge, so they decided to try and paddle up next to the bridge. They hoped to let the bridge hold the canoe, but the water pressure passing underneath was so strong that the canoe got sucked under, and the boys were tossed. Luckily, a local guide was canoeing in the area and was able to rescue them.

In 1983, a heavy sand truck fell through the deck of the bridge while trying to cross the span. The bridge was reinforced in 1984 to carry local traffic.

Lovejoy Bridge was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1970.

Located at:  N44 35.603   W70 44.010         -         WGCB #19-09-01

Photographed in June of 2022

Photos by Millard Farmer