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April 18, 2000 - One of the last big steps towards completing the Browns River Covered Bridge preservation project was realized when Gilbert Newbury stepped forward to serve as Project Engineer, a state requirement. Mr. Gilbert may be able to bring a grant of $50,000 to the project which will require matching funds of $5000 from the tiny town of 1700 residents. See Westford Historical Society President Caroline Brown's e-mail below.

The Westford Historical Society has been working since 1987 to save the Browns River Bridge, funding the work with ham suppers, local donations and federal grants, all to save the bridge without burdening the town with taxes. It has been a project unique in that the work that has been done was done by a handful of historical society members. Meanwhile work continues in planning and assembling the bid packages for the contractors.

The history and photos of the bridge, built in 1836, can be seen by clicking on "a Covered Bridge Preservation Story" at the top of this page.

The Westford Historical Society can scrape up almost $2000 of the required $5000 matching funds. Surely we of the covered bridge community can help them with the final $3000 to move this authentically restored covered bridge back to its place on Browns River.

Send your support to: Westford Historical Society, PO Box 21, Westford VT 05494. The organization has 501c3 status, so your donations are tax deductible. Joe Nelson

Date: Wed, 19 Apr 2000 11:05:59 -0400
From: windswept
To: joe nelson
Subject: Westford Covered Bridge

Joe: We are pleased to have Gil Newbury, P.E., District Transportation Administrator, with the VAOT, in District 8, as our Project Engineer, joining us in the effort to see a completion to Westford's Browns River Covered Bridge project. Mr. Newbury has informed us that he may be able to bring to this project, up to an additional $50,000 from the district Bridge & Culvert program, and have it applied to preliminary engineering and possibly to bridge decking, drainage and repairing the abutment stonework. This additional $50,000 would require that the Westford Historical Society raise a matching $5,000. The Historical Society has $2,000 (depleting any "reserve") and are looking for additional donations to reach this goal and to complete our project, presumably this year. Thank you for your efforts on reaching this goal!
        Caroline Brown, Westford Historical Society

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