Rowell Bridge
Hopkinton, Merrimack County, New Hampshire
Last checked 2026-11-01 · Sources · More New Hampshire bridges
At a glance
- Status
- Listed in the state's covered bridge inventory[1]
- Year built
- 1853[1]
- Truss type
- Unique truss design, single span[1]
- Length
- 167' long[1]
- Vehicle access
- Not verified
- Parking
- Not verified
Directions go to the bridge's mapped point, not a confirmed parking area.
About this bridge
Rowell Bridge is a covered bridge in Hopkinton, Merrimack County, New Hampshire. It appears in the NH Division of Historical Resources covered bridge inventory. The state record gives its construction date as 1853. Its structure is recorded as unique truss design, single span. Wikidata records it as crossing Contoocook River. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places (reference 76000129).
Bridge details
- Town
- Hopkinton[1]
- Location / road
- North of N.H. Route 127 on Clement Hill Road over the Contoocook River in West Hopkinton[1]
- Year built
- 1853[1]
- Truss type
- Unique truss design, single span[1]
- Length
- 167' long[1]
- Maintained by
- Town of Hopkinton[1]
- Crosses
- Contoocook River[2]
- National Register ref.
- 76000129[3]
- Load posting
- Posted for six tons (state inventory)[1]
- NH bridge number
- 9[1]
- World Guide number
- 29-07-08[1]
- Coordinates
- 43.19265, -71.74875[1]
History
The Rowell Bridge was constructed by Horace Childs & Co. of Henniker. Of the many covered bridges built by Horace and his brothers, Enoch and Warren, this is the only one remaining. The Rowell Bridge was built using an uncommon and unpatented design. Not long after its construction, a fast-moving herd of cattle moved the bridge off the abutments, and the bridge had to be resecured. Sometime around 1930, as automobiles became more common, it was decided that a central pier should be added to reinforce the structure. However, the pier had the opposite effect. As heavier loads crossed the bridge, the new center pier acted much like a fulcrum, causing the bridge to seesaw. As a result, the top portion of the center pier was removed. Unless one looks closely, it would appear the bridge is still a two-span. The Rowell Bridge has been repaired multiple times by the New Hampshire Department of Transportation- in 1965 for $9,520.93, in 1982 for $18,500, and in 1996 for $365,000. The Rowell Bridge is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[1]
Text as published in the NH Division of Historical Resources covered bridge inventory, checked 2026-11-01.
Visiting
We have no official parking, accessibility or opening information for this bridge. Many covered bridges sit on working town roads. Park only where it is legal and safe, respect private property and posted signs, and check town or state notices for closures.
Not verified
We have not found an official source for: Vehicle access, Parking, Accessibility, Opening hours or seasonal closures. We leave these blank rather than guess. Never assume a road means you can drive, park or walk here.
Map
Red dot: this bridge. Green dots: nearest bridges in our list. Distances are straight-line, not driving.
Nearby bridges
- Contoocook Railroad Bridge (Hopkinton): 2.7 mi straight-line distance, not driving distance
- New England College Bridge (Henniker): 3.9 mi straight-line distance, not driving distance
- Dalton Bridge (Warner): 6.6 mi straight-line distance, not driving distance
- Waterloo Bridge (Warner): 8.5 mi straight-line distance, not driving distance
- Bement Bridge (Bradford): 11.4 mi straight-line distance, not driving distance
Sources
- NH Division of Historical Resources covered bridge inventory: checked 2026-11-01
- Wikidata: checked 2026-11-01
- National Register of Historic Places (NPS), via Wikidata reference number: checked 2026-11-01
- Wikipedia article (background reading; not used for facts on this page)
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