The Contoocook River originates at its namesake lake and flows 71 miles in a uniquely northward direction until it empties into the Merrimack River. At one time, 21 covered bridges spanned the Contoocook; today, only four remain. Join us for this special evening with Bill Caswell, President of the National Society for the Preservation of Covered Bridges, and Kim Varney Chandler, author of Covered Bridges of New Hampshire, as they share the intriguing history of these historic structures.

7 to 8 p.m. at the Harris Center. Space is limited, and registration is required.

For more information, including questions about accessibility, contact Susie Spikol.

Bill Caswell graduated from the University of Rhode Island in 1984 and became interested in covered bridges upon starting a job with New Hampshire DOT shortly thereafter. In 2003, he co-founded a research project, the “Covered Spans of Yesteryear” (www.lostbridges.org), which has documented more than 14,000 wood truss bridges. Bill has also authored Connecticut and Rhode Island Covered Bridges (2011) and the most recent edition of the World Guide to Covered Bridges (2021). He is actively involved in a number of covered bridge organizations, including serving as the newsletter editor, historian, vice president, and, since 2014, president of the non-profit National Society for the Preservation of Covered Bridges. He and his wife, Jennifer, have visited most of the standing covered bridges in the United States and Canada.

Kim Varney Chandler is the author of Covered Bridges of New Hampshire, published by Peter E. Randall in 2022. She is a two-time graduate of the University of New Hampshire (‘91, ‘96G), where her love of history began in Professor Charles Clark’s classroom in Horton Hall. She has been researching ever since. Kim lives in Hancock with her husband, Marshell, and Pemi the Hiking Therapy Dog.