Arson and Natural Disasters

Reference Number: P173-171

Covered bridges were built to last but arson, vandalism, and natural deterioration are powerful adversaries. The loss of a bridge due to age, floods, wind and other acts of God cannot be prevented, but those from arson, vandalism or neglect are particularly disturbing.

Sixty years ago there were an estimated 340 covered bridges standing in New Brunswick. Today in 2004 there is 64 - fewer than one in five remaining. Between 1970 and 2004 at least 85 bridges have been lost by fire, wind, flood or other causes.

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These documents contain images of New Brunswick's covered bridges and some contain digitized copies of original maps and correspondence. The Language of these original documents is English.

 Bridge Losses 1954-2001 44 kb

 The Great Saxby Gale of 1869 18 kb

 The Fire of Red Bank Bridge

 Keswick River Bridges 329 kb

 Bayard Bridge Gone 127 kb

 The Arthurette Covered Bridge 24 kb

 The Hunters Ferry Covered Bridge 70 kb

 The Narrows Bridge 127 kb

 Lost In 2001 64 kb