TOWNSHEND — The Preservation Trust of Vermont has awarded the Townshend Historical Society six $250 Robert Sincerbeaux Fund matching grants, totaling $1,500.
The money will be used to hire Michael Weitzner from Thistle Stone Works of Brattleboro to complete conditions assessments on the six surviving, historically significant stone arch bridges in Townshend, built between 1894 and 1910 by Robert Follett.
A local dollar-for-dollar match is required.
Weitzner's final report will include not only his assessment of the bridges' current conditions, but also a prioritized list of repairs, suggestions for approaching them, and preliminary cost estimates. The findings will be used to set overall goals for the historical society's Stone Arch Bridge Preservation Project.
With the support of the Town of Townshend, the Historical Society is working to raise funds for the project, selling jigsaw puzzles featuring a photo of the West Townshend stone arch bridge, as well as color prints by local artist Aldro Hibbard.
They may be viewed and purchased at www.townshendvt.org, on the Society's Facebook page, and at local shops and galleries.