March 4, 2009 Free: Historic covered bridge in Vermont Play video

(NECN: Anya Huneke, Newfane, VT) - For decades, the village of Williamsville in Newfane, Vermont, has debated what to do about its old covered bridge.

The structure can't be repaired without compromising its historic significance, so it was finally decided that a reconstruction would be built.

But that has raised a new question- of what to do with the old bridge.

Open up the classifieds section of the newspaper and you'll usually find an interesting selection of items for sale... Or for free: things like a relaxation water lamp... A singing bowl... Embden geese... Bridges...

Yes, even bridges.

Two are currently up for grabs in Vermont: a rolled steel beam structure in Johnson... And a wooden covered bridge in Newfane.

It’s not that the owners - the towns themselves - don't want them... It just that they can no longer use them as originally intended.

Bob McCullough\Historic Bridge Prog. Mgr, VT AOT: "If we could find a new owner, that'd be great."

The covered bridge spans the Rock River in the Newfane village of Williamsville... As it has since it was built almost 150 years ago.

Bob "Not sure of the date- somewhere between 1860 and 1870."

It sits along the main route out of town... Right near Judy Egan’s home.

Judy Egan\Resident "It's beautiful-- a part of Vermont history."

It's also highly trafficked... And showing its age and use.

Bob "A lot of emergency vehicles use it,

Standard practice is to repair an historic bridge like this, using federal funding, while keeping its structural and functional integrity intact.

But in this case - the first so far involving a covered bridge - that's not possible.

Bob "There just aren't good solutions."

Which brings us back to the classified ad... Because by law, the federal highway administration has to offer the bridge to the public.

Bob "And this could be anybody?""This could be anybody... who can afford to come in and move the bridge."

The bridge itself is free... but try moving a structure of this size and age on the cheap-- not gonna happen.

Bob "That would be a very complex operation. I think something like the Williamsville Bridge would be separated into segments that could be moved."

And while the federal government would cover a portion... That could cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, historic bridge program manager Bob McCullough guesses.

Of course, he can't be sure, because this is a first for the Vermont agency of transportation. Often .. metal truss bridges that are removed are put to new use- by pedestrians or bikers, for example... Or they sit in storage...

Bob "We call it our orphanage- our bridge orphanage."

But Vermonters have a special place in their hearts for the state's 80 or so historic *covered* bridges.

Jon Julian\Williamsville "I'm all for covered bridges. I love covered bridges."

And in Williamsville .. Residents like Jon Julian and Jeryl Cisse love their covered bridge for its history and character... And for its role, as a one lane passageway, in controlling traffic.

Jeryl Julian Cisse\Williamsville "It also helps preserve the community-- it's small, people walk along the road..."

In recent years .. The village has lost its general store .. One of its churches .. And its timber crib dam-- all historic. So- many are not ready to see this bridge go.

Jon "What's left, it's important for us to try and preserve."

Plans are for the bridge to be reconstructed-- a modern version that looks similar, but holds more. But first .. This bridge needs a new owner.

Jon "Do you think anyone would want the bridge with all the costs associated with it?""I can't imagine who..."

McCullough hopes whoever snags it treats it as a piece of history-- of Vermont history.

Bob "It'd be nice to keep it in the state... I imagine we'll have interest from out of state, but who knows?"

Realistically .. Acquiring a bridge is out of the question for most... But fear not- the classifieds have many other unusual things to offer.