Back in August 2011, Hurricane Irene hit New England. The damage ranged from minimal to devastating depending on where you lived. My area of Massachusetts dealt with widespread flooding, downed trees, and loss of power for days. However, the good people of Quechee Village, Vermont, were dealt a much bigger blow.
The village’s landmark covered bridge was washed away when the Ottauquechee River raged out of control. The river also damaged the glass blowing operations of nearby Simon Pearce, a popular place to visit and shop for glassware in that area.
Quechee holds a special place in my heart. My husband and I have spent many a weekend in that area. We recently returned to see how the area was recovering after Irene. The new bridge just opened in December 2012 and we heard that Simon Pearce’s new glass blowing studio was up and running. I also dug into my photo archive and found a picture of the Quechee covered bridge from 2002.
Here are the before and after shots:
Quechee covered bridge, October 2003
Quechee covered bridge, March 2013
The new bridge looks fantastic. Comparing the two photos, it seems like there has been much work on the supporting infrastructure. I’m so glad the village of Quechee is whole again.
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