Model

Object/Artifact

Vermont Historical Society

Name/Title

Model

Entry/Object ID

1959.6.2

Description

Unfinished scale model of a covered bridge.

Context

Shows the Lewis Bridge in Westminster, Vermont. Started by Harold Slack and finished by Theron Morse.

Acquisition

Accession

1959.6

Source or Donor

Slack, Mrs. Harold

Acquisition Method

Gift

Made/Created

Artist Information

Slack, Harold E.

Morse, Theron

Date made

1958 - 1959

Lexicon

Nomenclature 4.0

Nomenclature Secondary Object Term

Model, Architect's

Nomenclature Primary Object Term

Model

Nomenclature Sub-Class

Nomenclature Class

Documentary Objects

Nomenclature Category

Category 08: Communication Objects

Dimensions

Height

23-1/2 in

Width

24 in

Length

72 in

Relationships

Related Places

Place

Town

Westminster

County

Windham County

State/Province

Vermont

Country

United States of America

Continent

North America

Interpretative Labels

Label

The covered bridge has become a Vermont symbol as so many were built here. Why did our Vermont forbears cover their bridges? Certainly not to resemble barns or to keep snow off the roads (they had to "snow" the bridges for sleighs to pass through), but very practically to make the bridges last longer. Most were built between 1820 and 1900, a large number right after the 1869 flood. This model of the former Lewis Bridge in Westminster, a Town Lattice design truss, was built by Harold Slack, a bridge designer for the Highway Department, and Theron Morse.