Cross Over the Bridge

Since we began our feature on the Covered Bridges of Vermont, we've included an excerpt about the "other" uses of covered bridges, from the excellent book by B. B. Woods and Bernice Barnett.

"Although covered bridges are not unique to Vermont, Yankee ingenuity came to the fore regarding their uses. At times, they were used as a drill floor for the militia camp meetings, in case of rain. The latticework of the bridges made an excellent hiding place for weapons. How many bottles of bootleg whiskey lay undetected by customs agents in Prohibition days?

....These bridges served other purposes as well. The trout fisherman looked to the pool under the bridge for a good catch; the small boys enjoyed the pool as a swimming hole that was sheltered where they could splash without worry of a bathing suit. In horse and buggy days, young lovers took advantage of the privacy to steal a kiss, thus causing the old covered bridges to be known as 'kissing' bridges. A slow horse, a long bridge, and a willing girl could produce two kisses.

Old fashioned square dances were sometimes held in the covered bridge. Even birds found refuge and built their nests among the timbers."

Source: B.B. Woods and Bernice Barnett, Green Mountain Reflections: Stories of the Green Mountains, Halifax, VT, 1995.

You'll have to get the book to read other Green Mountain Reflections. See our book review for additional information.