Ware-Hardwick Covered Bridge — Attraction in Hardwick

The Ware-Hardwick Covered Bridge is also known as the Gilbertville Covered Bridge because of its location - specifically, it spans the Ware River at the village of Gilbertville, which lies within the town of Hardwick. The bridge connects the towns of Ware and Hardwick, but its immediate setting in Gilbertville gives rise to the alternate name. This dual naming reflects both geographic and historical context. Gilbertville was a 19th-century industrial village founded by the George H. Gilbert Company, and the bridge served as a vital link between the mills and surrounding communities.

Built in 1886, it stands as one of only four wooden covered bridges in the state still located on their original sites. It is a single-span Town lattice truss, a design patented in 1820 by Ithiel Town. This system uses a dense web of diagonally crisscrossed planks, creating a strong yet economical structure without relying on arches. The bridge is about 137 feet long and 25 feet wide, with vertical board siding and a gabled metal roof. Notably, the siding leaves a strip open along the sides to allow natural light inside.

The mills and tenements that once defined the village of Gilbertville were largely destroyed in a flood during the 1930s, but the bridge endured. In 1986, underwent major restoration in 1986–87, and was closed again in 2002 due to structural concerns including insect damage. After a $1.9 million rehabilitation, it reopened in 2010 with no weight limit.

But it does have a height limit and I opted not to drive the Sprinter through, walking across to appreciate the bridge from inside and both sides of the span. It's a...

A charming and modest 137-foot covered bridge built in 1886 linked factories on both sides of the Ware River, as well as the towns of Ware and Hardwick, and ultimately the counties of Hampden and Worcester. These long-closed factories were owned by the George H. Gilbert Company, which made woolen goods.

The bridge, aptly named the Ware-Hardwick Covered Bridge, was built using the town lattice truss system, a design patented by Ithiel Town in 1820. This design replaced the more intricate arches of earlier systems with a web of diagonally placed planks held together with wooden pins and iron bolts.

It survived a flood in the 1930s but was later rendered unusable due to insect infestations and was taken out of service in 2002. Rebuilt to DOT standards, it reopened in 2010.

Bring your rod and reel to enjoy some peaceful fishing under the bridge's shadow. Or, take a scenic riverside trail walk on the Gilbertsville side of the river. At the very least, stop for a moment to take a photo of one of the few remaining covered bridges from the...

This corner of the world is absolutely beautiful even on a dreary day. I enjoy stopping by here from time to time simply to snap a few new shots. Unfortunately there are a few very run down buildings withing eye site but if you look the other way for a few minutes and let nature take over you will totally forget about that. This also makes a great spot to get professional pictures done. If you stop by to grab some pictures of the bridge itself you might even be lucky enough to catch a local police taking a nap in his cruiser...