The wooden span swung clattering down and crashed against the wall of the tower.
The bridge was built from 1888 through 1890 to replace a wooden span.
A wooden span that looked as old as time already crossed it.
This wooden span was called New Bridge to distinguish it from an older crossing several miles upstream.
The bridge was severely damaged by the flood of 1903 in which it lost one of its three wooden spans.
Five great piers of tapered stone supported the monstrous wooden span.
The new steel structure was built alongside of the old wooden span, false work erected on the upstream side.
Gil studied the wooden span and the dozen or so faces staring round-eyed at them from the ramparts above.
The wooden span was replaced with a steel one consisting of eight welded beams.
Covered bridges generally lasted five times longer than open wooden spans, according to the bridge society.