Babbs Bridge

Babbs bridge is the oldest and shortest covered bridge in Maine. It was covered in order to prolong the life of the bridge and its timbers from the weather and ease the horses fears of crossing the fast flowing river.

The first bridge built over the Presumpscot River at Leavitt's Falls or Horsebeef Falls, was built in 1763. The Presumpscot River journeys from Sebago Lake to the sea, naturally dividing the towns of Gorham and Windham. The number of replacement bridges built in the next eighty years is not known.

Disasterous flooding took place in Maine in the spring of 1843, and the Presumpscot had its worst flood that had been recorded to that time, The bridge at Leavitt's Falls was swept away, as were ten other bridges in Gorham.

From the Windham Historical Society:

http://frontpage.thewindhameagle.com/2017/02/then-and-now-babbs-covered-bridge.html

In the 1850s, more than 150 covered bridges dotted the Maine countryside. Today, only nine remain – two that had been destroyed, were replaced by exact replicas. The Windham/Gorham structure over the Presumpscot River was one of them. Historians disagree on the age of the bridge, as is evident in the historical photo/essay book series: “Images of America”. In “Windham: Images of American”, (Bell) states the original bridge was built in 1767. The “Images” series, “Gorham” (Fogg) records that the first construction occurred in 1763. And the “Images, Maine’s Covered Bridges”, (Conwill) maintains the bridge dates to 1864.

Almost certainly, there was a wooden span of some kind connecting the two towns during their early development in the mid to late 1700s. The disparity may lie in whether the bridge was closed-in or open. Earlier, open bridges may have been replaced with closed structures. Both types were common. A few, known as boxed pony trussed, had sides, but no canopy.

As noted by Conwill, “The historical record is never complete…most bridges disappeared early and their history is spottily recorded.” Windham’s early historians, Smith and Dole, are silent on the subject. Old town reports in both Windham and Gorham offer few clues, referring to expenditures like: “For work on the bridge.”

One question frequently posed by visitors and schoolchildren is, “Why were these bridges covered?” Some speculate it was to provide shade and protection from the weather for the weary traveler. Others maintain it was to keep snow clear of the bridge. Neither is correct. In fact, early town reports record expenditures to: “snow the bridge”. That is, they hired an individual who would shovel snow onto the bridge for the accommodation of sleighs - the principal form of transportation “back in the day.” Early bridges were, in fact, roofed to prevent the decay of their wood construction.

Even covered, dangers persisted. The most common were wind, waves and wildfire. In 1767, what was then termed a hurricane, but more likely was a microburst or a tornado given the early descriptions, destroyed “…all but the sturdy oaks”, in ¾ mile wide swath from Gorham, over Duck Pond (Highland Lake) to Falmouth, and sending almost the whole bridge downstream. Rebuilt, it became known as Hurricane Bridge. Floods upended the bridge on several occasions during the 1800s. It took the name Babb’s Bridge around 1880 after a Gorham family who lived nearby.

A photo gallery from the Maine Department of Transportation:

http://www.maine.gov/mdot/historicbridges/coveredbridges/babbsbridge/

Description from Mrs Morse of Windham Primary School:

Babbs Bridge was built in 1843. It is located off the River Road in South Windham, Maine and crosses the Presumpscott River. It connects Windham to Gorham on the Hurricane Road, often called the Covered Bridge Road. This bridge was also known as the Hurricane Bridge since the original bridge was destroyed by a hurricane in 1767 and its replacement was washed out in the spring of 1843. On May 6, 1973, vandals burned the bridge and destroyed one of Maine's oldest covered bridges. An exact replica was rebuilt and Babb's Bridge continues to be the only covered bridge in Cumberland County and the newest of 10 remaining in our state.

The bridge sits on the same split stone abutments 66 feet apart that held the old bridge for over a century. This makes it the shortest of Maine's covered bridges. Covered bridges were the only buildings into which snow was shoveled in those early days. This allowed for ease of traveling by sleighs. Covered bridges also offered protection for loaded hay wagons during sudden rain showers.

http://www.windham.k12.me.us/teachers/lmorse/windham/photo/page6.html