While driving around the Northern Catskills, admiring fall foliage that's arrived a bit earlier than usual, we happened upon the restored Old Blenheim Covered Bridge. Of course, we had to stop and check it out. We then continued on, to revisit another bridge and had a tasty lunch.

Over the past year, we’ve visited a handful of covered bridges—three in Vermont and one in Delaware County. It’s a fun way to explore an area—and a great excuse for a pretty drive.

Built in 1854 and opened the following year, the Old Blenheim Covered Bridge was once the longest single-span covered bridge in the world. Designed by a famous Vermont covered bridge builder Nicholas Montgomery Powers, it was constructed to help local residents move farm equipment and produce across the Schoharie Creek.

Skeptics doubted the bridge could hold and nicknamed it “Powers’ Folly.” But it stood firm, and once open, travelers paid a penny to walk across or 12 cents with a team of horses. A tollkeeper even lived in a house right next to the bridge.

By 1933, as automobiles became the norm, a steel bridge was built alongside it, and the covered bridge was reserved for pedestrians. Sadly, Tropical Storm Irene destroyed it in 2011 with its rising floodwaters.

In 2017–18, 3G Construction built a duplicate with painstaking attention to detail—replicating every truss, peg, and beam. This new version stands 12 feet higher than the original to better withstand future floods. Though it no longer spans the entire creek, it’s still fun to walk through and take in the view.

Not far away is another covered bridge worth visiting. Built in 1982 by Gerald Waldbillig of Albany, the Fox Creek Bridge was designed as a pedestrian crossing, connecting the last two houses on the road to the Village of Schoharie. Constructed with a concrete arch and Town Lattice–style design, it’s very charming.

Stroll across and you’ll find yourself at Lily Park. While the best time to visit is July–August during lily season, it’s a peaceful and lovely spot even in autumn.

After exploring bridges and soaking in the foliage, you’re bound to work up an appetite. We always stop at the Apple Barrel Store + Café, a local favorite with a hearty menu and plenty of country gifts to browse. It’s our go-to lunch spot in the area, open seven days a week for breakfast, lunch, or an early dinner.

Even replicas of 19th-century structures remind us of the creativity and ingenuity of the past. In my next newsletter or two, I’ll share a recent Vermont overnight trip to Lake Champlain, where we learned about the people who once lived and worked along the lake and its connecting canals. Such fascinating stories!

‘til next week, happy exploring!
Kathleen

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