A troubled bridge over waters ...

Mother Nature versus The Mainers

So far it's 4 to 3 in favor of The Mainers.

An epic battle has been waged in Guilford, Maine between Mother Nature and determined Mainers over a covered bridge, beloved by most but evidently despised by Mother Nature.

Lows Bridge (sometimes mistakenly spelled "Lowes") is one of only 9 covered bridges left in the State of Maine.

Mother Nature Has It In For Our Bridge!

Mother Nature seems to hate our bridge, sending devastating floods in the Spring of 1843, 1857 and 1987. These "Freshets", as they're known, have repeatedly washed this picturesque covered bridge from it's foundation and sent it hurtling downriver in little pieces. Each time, Mainers have doggedly come together and replaced their bridge, building it better and stronger and once even raising it up out of harms way.

Lows Bridge was originally built in the 1830. Quickly, Ma Nature showed her contempt for human endeavor by destroying the bridge in the spring of 1843. Determined Mainers just as quickly rebuilt their bridge. Not to be outdone, Mother Nature again got her hackles up and sent another flood in the spring of 1857, washing away the bridge but not the need to cross the river or the determination of the area's inhabitants.

Guilford-ites and Sangerville-ians, being determined but not foolish, rebuilt their precious bridge yet again. But this time, Isaac F. Wharff was contracted to raise the bridge up 3 feet by increasing the height of the granite abutments. Mr. WHarff completed this task for the princely sum of $500 including materials and labor during the summer of 1857.

That bridge did yeoman-like service for 130 years until Mother Nature again vented her wrath with yet another flood. This, on April Fool's day in 1987. Dwinal Hall captured a series of photographs of the bridge washing away which can be seen at the Covered Bridge Restaurant, across from the now 20-odd year old new bridge. 1990 saw the re-opening of our much loved covered bridge at a cost of $640,000! The stonework done in 1857 is still clearly distinguishable from the original stonework done under the bridge in 1830.

An interesting account of the history of Guilford and Sangerville's trouble with bridges may be found in Spragues Journal.