{
  "slug": "new-milford-boardman-bridge",
  "title": "Boardman Bridge: ironwork over the Housatonic",
  "towns": [
    "New Milford"
  ],
  "counties": [
    "Litchfield"
  ],
  "dateRange": "1887–1980s, with preservation context",
  "topic": "Industry & transport",
  "summary": "Twelve engineering photographs follow a lenticular bridge from its ornamented entrance to the connections beneath its deck, as a replacement crossing rises nearby.",
  "history": [
    {
      "heading": "A crossing for a working landscape",
      "text": "Built in 1887–88 by the Berlin Iron Bridge Company, Boardman Bridge connected routes used by farmers, lime-quarry workers and a nearby workers’ village. New Milford’s local guide describes a community with a school, store and railroad stop. The crossing’s significance was practical as well as architectural: a reliable route across the Housatonic joined homes, production and markets. The historic span measures 188 feet.",
      "source_ids": [
        "local-guide",
        "ct0373"
      ]
    },
    {
      "heading": "Read the curve, then the connections",
      "text": "A lenticular truss has a lens-like outline formed by its upper and lower chords. The federal photographs record both that overall shape and the individual joints, lateral bracing, portal bracing and flooring system. Begin with the view through the bridge, then compare the side views and details. The decorative bridge plate and entrance ornament remind us that an industrial structure could also be a carefully presented gateway.",
      "source_ids": [
        "ct0373"
      ]
    },
    {
      "heading": "Two bridges in one frame",
      "text": "Several captions explicitly identify new bridge construction or foundations beside the older span. These photographs preserve a transition, not simply an isolated antique. The 1984 survey narrative said replacement was planned for 1985. Although a catalog field labels 1985 as demolition, the surviving historic bridge is documented by New Milford’s later local guide. We therefore do not repeat that field as evidence that the old bridge disappeared.",
      "source_ids": [
        "ct0373",
        "local-guide"
      ]
    },
    {
      "heading": "Preservation after traffic",
      "text": "The local guide describes the old bridge as closed to both vehicles and pedestrians and discusses efforts to restore it. Its value in this archive is the ability to inspect parts that are difficult to see from the roadside: the bottom chord, floor system and connections at the ends of the truss. Consult current local information before planning access; these survey images describe a historical recording campaign.",
      "source_ids": [
        "local-guide",
        "ct0373"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "timeline": [
    {
      "date": "1887–88",
      "event": "The Berlin Iron Bridge Company builds the span.",
      "source_ids": [
        "local-guide"
      ]
    },
    {
      "date": "1984",
      "event": "The federal survey describes an intact historic bridge scheduled for replacement.",
      "source_ids": [
        "ct0373"
      ]
    },
    {
      "date": "Replacement era",
      "event": "Survey views record new construction beside the old span.",
      "source_ids": [
        "ct0373"
      ]
    },
    {
      "date": "2018",
      "event": "The New Milford Trust for Historic Preservation provides an interpretive sign.",
      "source_ids": [
        "local-guide"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sources": [
    {
      "id": "ct0373",
      "title": "Library of Congress: Boardman's Lenticular Bridge, Spanning Housatonic River on Boardman's Road, New Milford, Litchfield County, CT",
      "url": "https://www.loc.gov/item/ct0373/"
    },
    {
      "id": "local-guide",
      "title": "New Milford Now: Old Boardman Bridge",
      "url": "https://www.newmilfordnow.org/guides/old-boardman-bridge"
    }
  ],
  "images": [
    {
      "id": "90d867a6af256f3d4e",
      "image": "/county-images/69a9f1d3e1186cafb5c3ad96cd55e7ad24c604c8118560b6d3066916729cd2d6.jpg",
      "title": "General 'barrel shot'",
      "alt": "General 'barrel shot'. 1984 — later survey photograph.",
      "date": "1984 — later survey photograph",
      "creator": "Jet Lowe",
      "credit": "Jet Lowe; Historic American Engineering Record, Library of Congress",
      "source": "https://www.loc.gov/resource/hhh.ct0373.photos.023543p/",
      "rights": "No known restrictions on photographs made by the U.S. Government. This selection excludes identified third-party photocopies.",
      "license": "No known restrictions on federal survey photographs",
      "licenseUrl": "https://www.loc.gov/rr/print/res/114_habs.html",
      "kind": "photograph",
      "later": true,
      "originalCaption": "1.  GENERAL 'BARREL SHOT' - Boardman's Lenticular Bridge, Spanning Housatonic River on Boardman's Road, New Milford, Litchfield County, CT",
      "originalImage": "https://tile.loc.gov/storage-services/service/pnp/habshaer/ct/ct0300/ct0373/photos/023543pv.jpg"
    },
    {
      "id": "9112808ee89ea38faa",
      "image": "/county-images/3b1f347d91b95fc7b0d5be5ceff08b6b063f8e396521da473103ef631b617245.jpg",
      "title": "Detail 3/4 view showing bridge plate and portal decoration",
      "alt": "Detail 3/4 view showing bridge plate and portal decoration. 1984 — later survey photograph.",
      "date": "1984 — later survey photograph",
      "creator": "Jet Lowe",
      "credit": "Jet Lowe; Historic American Engineering Record, Library of Congress",
      "source": "https://www.loc.gov/resource/hhh.ct0373.photos.023544p/",
      "rights": "No known restrictions on photographs made by the U.S. Government. This selection excludes identified third-party photocopies.",
      "license": "No known restrictions on federal survey photographs",
      "licenseUrl": "https://www.loc.gov/rr/print/res/114_habs.html",
      "kind": "photograph",
      "later": true,
      "originalCaption": "2.  DETAIL 3/4 VIEW SHOWING BRIDGE PLATE AND PORTAL DECORATION - Boardman's Lenticular Bridge, Spanning Housatonic River on Boardman's Road, New Milford, Litchfield County, CT",
      "originalImage": "https://tile.loc.gov/storage-services/service/pnp/habshaer/ct/ct0300/ct0373/photos/023544pv.jpg"
    },
    {
      "id": "475ef2a035d5ea3f0b",
      "image": "/county-images/9100df8e9a8cbb49fa03b38ac1e30f331d6d43f6142c3f67d58813d21ed4991c.jpg",
      "title": "General 3/4 view with new bridge construction in right foreground",
      "alt": "General 3/4 view with new bridge construction in right foreground. 1984 — later survey photograph.",
      "date": "1984 — later survey photograph",
      "creator": "Jet Lowe",
      "credit": "Jet Lowe; Historic American Engineering Record, Library of Congress",
      "source": "https://www.loc.gov/resource/hhh.ct0373.photos.023545p/",
      "rights": "No known restrictions on photographs made by the U.S. Government. This selection excludes identified third-party photocopies.",
      "license": "No known restrictions on federal survey photographs",
      "licenseUrl": "https://www.loc.gov/rr/print/res/114_habs.html",
      "kind": "photograph",
      "later": true,
      "originalCaption": "3.  GENERAL 3/4 VIEW WITH NEW BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION IN RIGHT FOREGROUND - Boardman's Lenticular Bridge, Spanning Housatonic River on Boardman's Road, New Milford, Litchfield County, CT",
      "originalImage": "https://tile.loc.gov/storage-services/service/pnp/habshaer/ct/ct0300/ct0373/photos/023545pv.jpg"
    },
    {
      "id": "6dc3508d874e2f5f02",
      "image": "/county-images/13e3d48b3d11bc51580494b9ecd874975221f6a8fe23b316123c73e89ebc11ce.jpg",
      "title": "General 3/4 view with new bridge construction on left",
      "alt": "General 3/4 view with new bridge construction on left. 1984 — later survey photograph.",
      "date": "1984 — later survey photograph",
      "creator": "Jet Lowe",
      "credit": "Jet Lowe; Historic American Engineering Record, Library of Congress",
      "source": "https://www.loc.gov/resource/hhh.ct0373.photos.023546p/",
      "rights": "No known restrictions on photographs made by the U.S. Government. This selection excludes identified third-party photocopies.",
      "license": "No known restrictions on federal survey photographs",
      "licenseUrl": "https://www.loc.gov/rr/print/res/114_habs.html",
      "kind": "photograph",
      "later": true,
      "originalCaption": "4.  GENERAL 3/4 VIEW WITH NEW BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION ON LEFT - Boardman's Lenticular Bridge, Spanning Housatonic River on Boardman's Road, New Milford, Litchfield County, CT",
      "originalImage": "https://tile.loc.gov/storage-services/service/pnp/habshaer/ct/ct0300/ct0373/photos/023546pv.jpg"
    },
    {
      "id": "593c659daec159a6ff",
      "image": "/county-images/233ed7ce381c7e5008f121f88abf850de6c2ab6329bc1fcf8041f61a322db36a.jpg",
      "title": "General elevation view with new bridge construction on far side of bridge",
      "alt": "General elevation view with new bridge construction on far side of bridge. 1984 — later survey photograph.",
      "date": "1984 — later survey photograph",
      "creator": "Jet Lowe",
      "credit": "Jet Lowe; Historic American Engineering Record, Library of Congress",
      "source": "https://www.loc.gov/resource/hhh.ct0373.photos.023547p/",
      "rights": "No known restrictions on photographs made by the U.S. Government. This selection excludes identified third-party photocopies.",
      "license": "No known restrictions on federal survey photographs",
      "licenseUrl": "https://www.loc.gov/rr/print/res/114_habs.html",
      "kind": "photograph",
      "later": true,
      "originalCaption": "5.  GENERAL ELEVATION VIEW WITH NEW BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION ON FAR SIDE OF BRIDGE - Boardman's Lenticular Bridge, Spanning Housatonic River on Boardman's Road, New Milford, Litchfield County, CT",
      "originalImage": "https://tile.loc.gov/storage-services/service/pnp/habshaer/ct/ct0300/ct0373/photos/023547pv.jpg"
    },
    {
      "id": "a300e0db51688c68f9",
      "image": "/county-images/f341a02933a4d26579702cd8c64ea2bb94b0caf51648220d60d4daaa9702bdec.jpg",
      "title": "General elevation view with new bridge foundation in right foreground",
      "alt": "General elevation view with new bridge foundation in right foreground. 1984 — later survey photograph.",
      "date": "1984 — later survey photograph",
      "creator": "Jet Lowe",
      "credit": "Jet Lowe; Historic American Engineering Record, Library of Congress",
      "source": "https://www.loc.gov/resource/hhh.ct0373.photos.023548p/",
      "rights": "No known restrictions on photographs made by the U.S. Government. This selection excludes identified third-party photocopies.",
      "license": "No known restrictions on federal survey photographs",
      "licenseUrl": "https://www.loc.gov/rr/print/res/114_habs.html",
      "kind": "photograph",
      "later": true,
      "originalCaption": "6.  GENERAL ELEVATION VIEW WITH NEW BRIDGE FOUNDATION IN RIGHT FOREGROUND - Boardman's Lenticular Bridge, Spanning Housatonic River on Boardman's Road, New Milford, Litchfield County, CT",
      "originalImage": "https://tile.loc.gov/storage-services/service/pnp/habshaer/ct/ct0300/ct0373/photos/023548pv.jpg"
    },
    {
      "id": "25ecb157fefd3259a6",
      "image": "/county-images/9ee8515ae3210b798d3dc299b9291c1a31d4a63333843ac2a421dd320151b9f7.jpg",
      "title": "Detail view of bottom chord and flooring system",
      "alt": "Detail view of bottom chord and flooring system. 1984 — later survey photograph.",
      "date": "1984 — later survey photograph",
      "creator": "Jet Lowe",
      "credit": "Jet Lowe; Historic American Engineering Record, Library of Congress",
      "source": "https://www.loc.gov/resource/hhh.ct0373.photos.023549p/",
      "rights": "No known restrictions on photographs made by the U.S. Government. This selection excludes identified third-party photocopies.",
      "license": "No known restrictions on federal survey photographs",
      "licenseUrl": "https://www.loc.gov/rr/print/res/114_habs.html",
      "kind": "photograph",
      "later": true,
      "originalCaption": "7.  DETAIL VIEW OF BOTTOM CHORD AND FLOORING SYSTEM - Boardman's Lenticular Bridge, Spanning Housatonic River on Boardman's Road, New Milford, Litchfield County, CT",
      "originalImage": "https://tile.loc.gov/storage-services/service/pnp/habshaer/ct/ct0300/ct0373/photos/023549pv.jpg"
    },
    {
      "id": "0eba3f3d004b5fb590",
      "image": "/county-images/b108a573adbc37b4e5e0210d9538f30fe5fe9d2dddbd04c72f21692a1dd9650e.jpg",
      "title": "Detail view of upper and lower chords taken from bridge deck",
      "alt": "Detail view of upper and lower chords taken from bridge deck. 1984 — later survey photograph.",
      "date": "1984 — later survey photograph",
      "creator": "Jet Lowe",
      "credit": "Jet Lowe; Historic American Engineering Record, Library of Congress",
      "source": "https://www.loc.gov/resource/hhh.ct0373.photos.023550p/",
      "rights": "No known restrictions on photographs made by the U.S. Government. This selection excludes identified third-party photocopies.",
      "license": "No known restrictions on federal survey photographs",
      "licenseUrl": "https://www.loc.gov/rr/print/res/114_habs.html",
      "kind": "photograph",
      "later": true,
      "originalCaption": "8.  DETAIL VIEW OF UPPER AND LOWER CHORDS TAKEN FROM BRIDGE DECK - Boardman's Lenticular Bridge, Spanning Housatonic River on Boardman's Road, New Milford, Litchfield County, CT",
      "originalImage": "https://tile.loc.gov/storage-services/service/pnp/habshaer/ct/ct0300/ct0373/photos/023550pv.jpg"
    },
    {
      "id": "1aba387f58cd542d05",
      "image": "/county-images/317276654f4797c1224521e038fc9f2b928292756052735ba6eb02f66de89b8e.jpg",
      "title": "Detail view showing lateral bracing",
      "alt": "Detail view showing lateral bracing. 1984 — later survey photograph.",
      "date": "1984 — later survey photograph",
      "creator": "Jet Lowe",
      "credit": "Jet Lowe; Historic American Engineering Record, Library of Congress",
      "source": "https://www.loc.gov/resource/hhh.ct0373.photos.023551p/",
      "rights": "No known restrictions on photographs made by the U.S. Government. This selection excludes identified third-party photocopies.",
      "license": "No known restrictions on federal survey photographs",
      "licenseUrl": "https://www.loc.gov/rr/print/res/114_habs.html",
      "kind": "photograph",
      "later": true,
      "originalCaption": "9.  DETAIL VIEW SHOWING LATERAL BRACING - Boardman's Lenticular Bridge, Spanning Housatonic River on Boardman's Road, New Milford, Litchfield County, CT",
      "originalImage": "https://tile.loc.gov/storage-services/service/pnp/habshaer/ct/ct0300/ct0373/photos/023551pv.jpg"
    },
    {
      "id": "5c12ca309833b1068e",
      "image": "/county-images/769dc44e3b4ac698c06e20d5c789b16e36771b59a809ae2f2550cd28e128ff52.jpg",
      "title": "Detail view of portal bracing taken from bridge deck",
      "alt": "Detail view of portal bracing taken from bridge deck. 1984 — later survey photograph.",
      "date": "1984 — later survey photograph",
      "creator": "Jet Lowe",
      "credit": "Jet Lowe; Historic American Engineering Record, Library of Congress",
      "source": "https://www.loc.gov/resource/hhh.ct0373.photos.023552p/",
      "rights": "No known restrictions on photographs made by the U.S. Government. This selection excludes identified third-party photocopies.",
      "license": "No known restrictions on federal survey photographs",
      "licenseUrl": "https://www.loc.gov/rr/print/res/114_habs.html",
      "kind": "photograph",
      "later": true,
      "originalCaption": "10.  DETAIL VIEW OF PORTAL BRACING TAKEN FROM BRIDGE DECK - Boardman's Lenticular Bridge, Spanning Housatonic River on Boardman's Road, New Milford, Litchfield County, CT",
      "originalImage": "https://tile.loc.gov/storage-services/service/pnp/habshaer/ct/ct0300/ct0373/photos/023552pv.jpg"
    },
    {
      "id": "a826024094fb7411d5",
      "image": "/county-images/7a660932961153d28c8e4416e7f2010697ffae284a9b653b113cf4500ab66cb2.jpg",
      "title": "Detail view of bottom chord connection",
      "alt": "Detail view of bottom chord connection. 1984 — later survey photograph.",
      "date": "1984 — later survey photograph",
      "creator": "Jet Lowe",
      "credit": "Jet Lowe; Historic American Engineering Record, Library of Congress",
      "source": "https://www.loc.gov/resource/hhh.ct0373.photos.023553p/",
      "rights": "No known restrictions on photographs made by the U.S. Government. This selection excludes identified third-party photocopies.",
      "license": "No known restrictions on federal survey photographs",
      "licenseUrl": "https://www.loc.gov/rr/print/res/114_habs.html",
      "kind": "photograph",
      "later": true,
      "originalCaption": "11.  DETAIL VIEW OF BOTTOM CHORD CONNECTION - Boardman's Lenticular Bridge, Spanning Housatonic River on Boardman's Road, New Milford, Litchfield County, CT",
      "originalImage": "https://tile.loc.gov/storage-services/service/pnp/habshaer/ct/ct0300/ct0373/photos/023553pv.jpg"
    },
    {
      "id": "57b2df09aff6b39953",
      "image": "/county-images/fa786e1110c26ee1785e0c9bbbdbe2f256228429655b01a6635151b414e7c4fc.jpg",
      "title": "Detail view of bridge plate",
      "alt": "Detail view of bridge plate. 1984 — later survey photograph.",
      "date": "1984 — later survey photograph",
      "creator": "Jet Lowe",
      "credit": "Jet Lowe; Historic American Engineering Record, Library of Congress",
      "source": "https://www.loc.gov/resource/hhh.ct0373.photos.023554p/",
      "rights": "No known restrictions on photographs made by the U.S. Government. This selection excludes identified third-party photocopies.",
      "license": "No known restrictions on federal survey photographs",
      "licenseUrl": "https://www.loc.gov/rr/print/res/114_habs.html",
      "kind": "photograph",
      "later": true,
      "originalCaption": "12.  DETAIL VIEW OF BRIDGE PLATE - Boardman's Lenticular Bridge, Spanning Housatonic River on Boardman's Road, New Milford, Litchfield County, CT",
      "originalImage": "https://tile.loc.gov/storage-services/service/pnp/habshaer/ct/ct0300/ct0373/photos/023554pv.jpg"
    }
  ]
}