Low's Bridge

Low's Bridge sits adjacent to land once owned by Robert Low, one of Guilford's early settlers. The towns of Guilford and Sangerville built the original structure in 1830 to make travel between the two areas of commerce easier. A flood destroyed the bridge in 1832 after which it was rebuilt and once again washed away in 1857. , The third Low's Covered Bridge, rebuilt in 1857, spanned 130 feet across the beautiful Piscataquis River and by modern standards was one lane wide. The foundation and approach to the bridge were constructed by Isaac Wharff who hauled the granite more than 7 miles by oxen team from Guilford Mountain. The bridge carpenter, Leonard Knowlton, used a patented Long-truss design which used mathematical calculations to develop a truss that looks like the letter X. This bridge lasted 130 years until a major flood on April 1, 1987 destroyed it. , Plans to rebuild this treasured landmark, a tribute to early engineering ingenuity, began as soon as the flood-waters receded. Structural engineers, Ryan-Biggs Associates of New York designed a bridge that replicated the original as closely as possible and strengthened the over-all structure bringing it into compliance with current codes and standards. Chesterfield Associates of Westport Island, Maine assembled the new Low's Bridge off-site and more than 1,000 people watched as it was rolled into place on August 23, 1990. The new bridge sits on the original stone-masonry abutments that were raised almost 3 feet to reduce the potential for future flood damage., (photo captions) , . A view reminiscent of days gone by as you travel through Low’s Covered bridge. Credit: Stan Higgins , . As the flood waters of ’87 raged the historic bridge was forced from its long standing foundation. Credit: Dwinal D. Hall, c 1987 , . The mighty Piscataquis would not give up until the bridge was battered and broken and lay upon the banks, its beauty unrecognizable. Credit: Dwinal D. Hall, c 1987 , . During the construction of Low’s Bridge an impressive skeleton frame was erected to span the Piscataquis River. Credit: Roger Willis . This historical marker is in Guilford in Piscataquis County Maine