The close of summer and the start of fall has always been a season of stories here in the valleys and hills of Vermont and New Hampshire. Western Grafton County and its neighbors have seen their share of triumphs, tragedies, and community milestones during these September weeks. From train wrecks to town charters, Grange halls to covered bridges, the history is right under our feet—and worth remembering. Here are four true tales from our past, all drawn from the record.

September 15, 1907 — The Canaan Train Wreck
Western Grafton County witnessed one of New Hampshire’s worst rail disasters when a Boston & Maine passenger express from Quebec collided head-on with a freight train four miles west of Canaan Station. Twenty-five people were killed and at least as many more injured. Newspapers traced the cause to a dispatcher’s mistake, a grim reminder of the risks in an era when railroads were the lifelines of the region.

September 3, 1761 — Tunbridge Chartered
Governor Benning Wentworth of New Hampshire signed the charter for Tunbridge, Vermont on this day in 1761. Settlers soon carved farms from the upland forests. Over the decades, Tunbridge became best known for the Tunbridge World’s Fair, first held in 1867, which continues as one of Vermont’s oldest and most beloved agricultural gatherings.

1912–2022 — The Lower Intervale Grange
The Lower Intervale Grange No. 321 in Plymouth, New Hampshire, was built in 1912 and quickly became a hub for rural life—hosting suppers, meetings, and farm discussions. More than a century later, in 2022, the building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. Its distinctive roofline and front-facing gable still stand as a physical reminder of the Grange movement’s importance to New England communities.

September 14, 1979 — The Fall of Bedell Bridge
The Bedell Covered Bridge once connected Newbury and Haverhill across the Connecticut River. At 396 feet, it was the second-longest covered bridge in the nation. After a local fundraising effort, it was rebuilt in 1978. But less than a year later, on September 14, 1979, a fierce windstorm destroyed it. Today, only the stone abutments remain at Bedell Bridge State Park, where visitors can still stand and imagine its span.

Sources
Canaan, New Hampshire, Wikipedia — account of the 1907 train wreck.

Vermont History Explorer — September charter events, Tunbridge 1761.

Lower Intervale Grange No. 321, Wikipedia — National Register listing.

Town of Haverhill, NH — Bedell Bridge historical marker; Wikipedia entry on Bedell Bridge.

Share Your Story
Do you have a clipping, photograph, or family memory tied to these events? Send them to joshua@thebridgeweekly.com and you may see your piece of history featured in a future edition of Then and There: Strange Days in Local History.

Have a story?