The 2018 Double-barreled Blenheim Covered Bridge in Blenheim, Schoharie County, New York.

The "Queen of Covered Bridges," the old Blenheim Bridge was built in 1855 by Nicholas Montgomery Powers, a master bridge builder from Vermont who made history by constructing the world's longest single-span covered bridge in Blenheim.

Local businessmen formed the Blenheim Bridge Company in 1828. Major Dickerman had a problem transporting hemlock bark to his tannery in the village of North Blenheim and he, along with other businessmen and farmers, found it difficult to ford the Schoharie Creek with heavy wagon loads. They engaged Mr. Powers with a contract for $6,000 to build the bridge.

The structure was first assembled on nearby land, rebuilt over the creek as a single center arch, 232 feet long with 2 lanes and 3 rib segments from the stone abutments to the roof making it the longest single-span covered bridge in the world between abutments.

Skeptics doubted that such a long span could be sustained, calling it "Powers' Folly." However, when the last supports were removed, Powers sat on the ridgepole declaring, "If she goes, I'll go with her." The bridge held firm and settled a fraction of an inch, retaining its arch for a century and a half.

Over time the bridge took on a persona of its own. There was a tollbooth, collecting a penny for those walking and twelve cents for horse teams. The bridge employed a toll keeper who lived in a small house next to the bridge.

A sign at the east end stated, "$5.00 fine to ride or drive this bridge faster than a walk." Snow was scattered over the interior floor during the winter to aid horse-drawn sleighs.

The old bridge welcomed many generations of travelers; enabling farmers to haul their produce to market, sheltering courting couples out for a buggy ride, embracing children on their way to the nearby one-room schoolhouse, hosting weddings, art walks, and other celebrations.

Its unique construction earned the designation in 1964 by the U.S. Department of Interior as a National Historic Landmark. This exemplar of American ingenuity was also recognized officially in 1984 by the American Society of Civil Engineers for its engineering innovation.

Schoharie Creek, the same life force that has been the source of this valley's bounty, can also become the cause of destruction when extreme weather events occur. The Old Blenheim Bridge endured the test of time, surviving major storms and floods. However, on August 28, 2011, Tropical Storm Irene wreaked havoc on the Scholarie Valley when a 500-year flood lifted the bridge from its abutments, swooping the shattered remnants downstream. This iconic treasure, which embodied the very identity of the Town of Blenheim, had vanished, leaving a void in the hearts of the community.

The loss of their beloved bridge mobilized the citizens of Blenheim. The recovery committee developed a vision of the community's future with the reconstructed bridge as its centerpiece.

Supported by the Town of Blenheim and Scholarie County, federal and state funding was secured for the project.

The rebuilt structure, completed in 2018, recreates in meticulous detail the original bridge. Built by timber bridge builders of New Hampshire-based 3G Construction, the 3rd generation of the Graton family replicated every detail and nuance specified in the original bridge's blueprints. This same attention included the use of 13 species of timber, and precise replication of every truss, peg, brace, beam, and siding in keeping true to Powers' engineering gem. The only modification was building higher abutments, which elevated the new bridge by 12 feet to protect it from future flooding events. In 1869, a flash flood on the town side of the creek opened a new channel requiring a small wooden extension added to the bridge.

In 1887, a herd of cattle crashed through the extension and was rebuilt with reused materials.

In 1891, the second extension fell again under the weight of a threshing machine.

In 1894, an iron extension replaced the wooden extension.

In 1930, the bridge was retired from active service when the iron span cracked beneath a load of ice.

Located at:  N42 28.307    W74 26.490     -      WGCB #32-48-01 #2

Photographed in May of 2023