Squam River Bridge
No. 65
Built in 1990 by Milton S. and Arnold M. Graton, the Squam River Covered Bridge spans the Squam River at the outlet of Little Squam Lake in Ashland. The 60-foot Town lattice bridge replaced a deteriorated structure that had been temporarily supported by a Bailey Bridge. Ashland residents organized an extensive grassroots fundraising campaign, raising $200,000 from more than 500 donors in 26 states and England. The Gratons built the bridge using traditional methods, including more than 1,100 wooden trunnels. The bridge was pulled into place by oxen in April 1990 and opened to traffic the following month. It was the last covered bridge built by Milton Graton and the last project on which he worked with his son Arnold.
Squam River Bridge Photo Album
Arnold M. Graton Podcast Episode
The Master Bridgewright Arnold M. Graton
Kim talks with master bridgewright Arnold M. Graton of Holderness about his long career preserving and restoring historic structures, most notably, covered bridges. Arnold shares his experiences utilizing nineteenth-century construction to both restore, and build, new covered bridges, not only in New Hampshire but across the country. This is a rare interview with a true master whose impact on the New Hampshire covered bridge community is without precedence.
