Windham's Castle Hill Bridge to be restored

Salem Editor — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 18:45:00 GMT

Town officials have gained public support to replace a closed, structurally deficient bridge recognized by the state as a historical landmark by next year.

Selectmen fulfilled a request by the New Hampshire Division of Cultural Resources to publicly present plans to replace the Castle Hill Road bridge and to preserve eight beams of wood – six of which date back to the original construction of the bridge – during last week’s board meeting. The move gave the town the go-ahead to begin the replacement of the bridge.

Micheal Croteau of SEA Consultants – the firm handling the project for both towns – told the board during his presentation that plans to reconstruct the bridge are about 90 percent completed. Once the remaining permits are granted, the town can go to bid, he said.

Town Manager David Sullivan estimates construction of a new 41-foot two-lane bridge is at least a year off.

“We wanted to get it done this year, but because of this process there’s no way we’re going to get it done,” he said. “The completion will not take place until next year at this point.”

While the single lane bridge spanning the Beaver Brook from Windham into Pelham is eligible for both the New Hampshire and national registers of historic places, the historical societies of both municipalities sent letters in supporting the move to replace the structure.

“While it is always difficult to accept the loss of an historic resource, the (Windham Historic District and Heritage Commission) recognizes that, at times, greater consideration must be given to practicality and economics,” wrote Carol Pynn, chairman of the commission.

Each town will receive four of the eight timbers. In Windham, the wood will be used to reconstruct the boardwalk at the historic depot building to its original appearance as well as for the construction of access stairs into the Stickney Cellar foundation, also located in the historic Depot district. Pynn told board members at the public hearing that the origins of the timber would be clearly marked in some form of a plaque.

“I am very pleased to hear that the Castle Hill Road Bridge is finally going to get replaced,” wrote Bill Scanzani, president of the Pelham Historic Society. “I am even more pleased to know that the wooden beams of this historic bridge will not go to waste and can be reused by our trails committee for the purpose of maintaining our many miles of wonderful trails here in Pelham.”

The Pelham Snowmobile club has requested the use of the salvaged timber for existing snowmobile or bike trails within the town.

Originally constructed between 1905 and 1914, the bridge was upgraded in 1971 and then again in 1990 when the structure was re-decked with pressure-treated wood. The bridge was closed in 2006 after flooding damaged the structure.

The state inventory describes the bridge as “an increasingly rare example of a timber stringer bridge with a timber deck.”

Destination Windham: Caboose coming to town

Salem Editor — Wed, 09 May 2007 17:37:00 GMT

BY DARRELL HALEN

An old train caboose will make its last stop in Windham.

The caboose, built in 1932 and once part of the Boston & Maine Railroad, is being sold to the town and will be placed at an old train depot.

The blue C-16 caboose is being purchased for $15,000 from Salem resident William Boddy. It is currently located in Lawrence, Mass., and plans call for it to be moved on June 9.

The fully restored caboose will require only minor work, said Mark Samsel of the town’s Depot Advisory Committee.

Opened in the mid 1800s, the depot was an important part of New Hampshire’s railroad history, and included the town’s post office, a sawmill, and a general and grain store, according to the committee.

The group is working to restore and beautify the area and wants to make the caboose available for public viewing.

“It adds quite a lot to the area,” Town Administrator David Sullivan said of the caboose. “It emphasizes its history. It’s a nice symbol as you enter the complex.”

In preparation for receiving the caboose, volunteers recently built 40 feet of railroad track at the intersection of Depot and Frost roads. The rail lies on 27 ties held by 108 spikes driven by hand, similar to how rail was installed years ago, according to the group.

The location of the rail is close to one of three tracks that intersected the depot.

It will cost $8,000 to move the caboose, and approximately $1,800 has been pledged to date, according to Samsel.

The town had planned to accept a donation of an old caboose from a Pelham resident. But Samsel said the group later learned the old caboose would not be able to handle the move.

Windham News : history

Windham's Castle Hill Bridge to be restored

Destination Windham: Caboose coming to town