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FAQ’s
Where is the covered bridge?
Actually, Woodstock has three covered bridges. The Middle Bridge (located just off of The Green and built in 1969) can be seen from the History Center’s back lawn. The Taftsville Bridge, built in 1836, is impossible to miss just off of Rt. 4. Tropical Storm Irene significantly damaged this bridge, however the original trusses still exist. The Lincoln Bridge, formally called the Williams Bridge, is located in West Woodstock.
How do you pronounce Ottauquechee River?
The Ottauquechee River (pronounced AWT-ah-KWEE-chee) is a 41.4-mile-long river that runs through Woodstock.
Were barn quilts traditionally used for the Underground Railroad?
No. A nice myth but they are decorative only. Barn quilts are thought to have originated in Pennsylvania over 200 hundred years ago and then spread too much of the New England and Midwestern states. The meaning of each barn quilt is often rooted in family tradition.
Why do many of the historic buildings have shutters?
Shutters, which were popular during the 19th century, were traditionally used for ventilation, privacy, and protection from the sun. By the 1920s, shutters were relegated primarily to decorative status with rise of the use of metal screens and storm windows. They are now purely decorative.
When did metal roofs become popular?
“Metal roofs have a long history, for sheets of lead or copper have been used as roofing since classical times. A few landmark colonial houses of the New World used such roofs, but metal became a common roofing material only in the early 19th century when sheet iron (usually coated with zinc, tin, or lead to prevent rust) first became relatively inexpensive and plentiful. Usually metal roofs are applied as large sheets joined with standing seams, which help prevent leaks. Later in the 19th century, stronger corrugated panels of iron became common for roofing of commercial and modest domestic buildings. Their rigidity gives such panels the advantage of requiring less underlying support than do most roofing materials. In the 20th century, panels of corrugated aluminum are sometimes used for the same reason.” A Field Guide to American Houses. Virginia and Lee McAllester. 1998.
Is there a vampire’s heart buried on The Green?
According to local lore, the Corwin boy was a vampire, and in 1830, the ashes of his heart were buried on The Green. However, there is no credible evidence that this event actually happened. A similar ritual, albeit under different circumstances, did happen in South Woodstock to a young man named Frederick Ransom in 1817 after he died of consumption.
Is Woodstock’s Green laid out in the size and shape of a ship?
No. It is thought that The Green was laid out in the shape of Admiral Dewey’s ship. But The Green developed long before his ship was built and is much larger.
Was the 1969 Woodstock rock concert held in this town?
No. The Woodstock concert was held in Bethel, New York.