Bog Bridge, pont américain
Bog Bridge is a covered wooden bridge in Andover that crosses Pleasant Brook and now serves only pedestrians. It uses the Town lattice truss design, where overlapping wooden planks form a crisscross pattern supported by horizontal beams called chords.
The bridge was built in 1887 by Prentice C. Atwood, a skilled carpenter who also built another nearby bridge. After a flood in 1938 damaged the abutments, the west side was repaired with mortar, and in 1957 the bridge was straightened to correct a slight lean.
The bridge is known locally by two names: Bog Bridge and Cilleyville Bridge, a naming confusion that arose from another nearby bridge with the same historical designation. This dual identity reflects how the structure is woven into the community's local knowledge and memory.
The bridge is accessible to pedestrians only and features small side openings that allow natural light in and provide views. The floor is made of heavy wooden planks in two layers that create a smooth walkway, while approach roads are covered with gravel and grass.
This bridge lacks the lateral braces that typically stabilize many other covered bridges of its kind. Because it is relatively short, builders decided these supports were unnecessary, yet the structure has proven remarkably durable without them.
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