Of all the dozen railroad covered bridges in New England, this
one alone had the proper construction to facilate easy dismanteling
and assembling. It is a Howe truss design with large timbers and
steel rods which makes its dissembly and erection easier than the
Town Lattise type.
This view shows the bridge moved across the river. Due to local
drought conditions, the river is the lowest it has been in years.
The bridge was assembled on land, each side laying on the ground.
When the sides were completed, they were lifted erect by a rented
crane and the remainder of the bridge completed. The bridge is
about 100 feet long and was built about 1900. Many of the now
existing covered railroad bridges were built during this period, as
local labor and wood was cheap and plentiful. However, main line
bridges were built of steel and many of the branch line wooden
bridges were rebuilt as they burned down. At the present time there
are 8 railroad covered bridges left in New England still in
service. They are gradually giving way to fire and abandonment, at
the rate of about one every five years. The oldest railroad covered
bridge in this area was burned this spring at Bennington, New
Hampshire by the diesel of the local freight, which got itself
marooned at Hillsboro for a week for this deed. Needless to say,
strict fire, control measures will be used on the railroad
here.
The bridge was moved to the piers on rollers and pulled by an
old Lynn tractor and a big block and tackle. Ed’s crew, David
Clark and Peter Thompson, had previously layed a double track
railroad across the river from abutment to abutment and rolled 4
log cars into the river. On these log cars blocking was assembled
to hold the east end of the bridge up while the pull across the
river was being made. The final move across the river was made on
one day by the boys while father Clark was busy with the business
at the trading post. The bridge lined up exactly to center when the
move was completed, which speaks well for these junior bridge
builders, none of whom is over 18 years old. Just as in the old
years, when these men who designed and built bridges seldom were
beyond their twenties, these youngsters proved that young people
can still produce when inspired. And a covered bridge is properly
inspiring.
This threshing scene was photographed in 1946 near Osseo,
Minnesota. The engine is a 1914, 25 HP, Minneapolis and the
separator is a 36 x 58 Russell built about 1924. When George
purchased this separator it was about 35% dismantled and in the
process of being sold for scrap during the second world war. George
retrieved all the parts and the machine was restored to A-l
condition. The man in the picture on the engine is George Bednar,
owner of the rig, threshing on his land at Osseo, Minnesota.
This picture of my threshing outfit was taken in 1954 near
Osseo, Minnesota. The engine is a 22 HP Advance straw butner built
about 1908. I restored this engine to factory original in 1951. The
engine was previously owned by Thompson Threshing Company of
Buffalo, Minnesota. In the picture I am on the engine. The
separator is a 36 x 58 Minneapolis, steel machine. I now have a 36
x 56 Red River Special with 14 ft. Garden City feeder and weigher.
In the picture the men pitching in to the machine are George Bednar
on the left and George Lorsen on the right.
This picture was taken in 1908 following the first threshing job
done by this outfit. This is a Leader Separator, 28 cylinder,
50′ separator and a 12 HP Engine. This outfit was built in
Marion, Ohio by the Leader Threshing Company. The machine was owned
and operated by my brother, E. H. Huston, now deceased, and I for a
period of 10 years. It had been stored and in fine shape. Two years
ago I sold it to Harry Rodgers, who lives south of Lisbon, Ohio. It
is in fine running order today. Mr. Rodgers had it to the Old
Threshing Conventions last fall.
