BANGOR DAILY NEWS • July 19, 2021
An historic covered bridge spanning the Meduxnekeag River was destroyed by fire Monday afternoon. The Watson Settlement Bridge is an iconic structure in Littleton, located on the Carson Road near the Foxcroft Road intersection. In 1984, the bridge was closed to traffic when a new bridge and road were constructed. Littleton Fire Chief Dwight Cowperthwaite would not speculate on the cause of the fire, but an investigator from the State Fire Marshal’s Office was on the scene around 3:45 p.m. Monday. According to Cowperthwaite, the fire was first reported by a group of people who were driving by the bridge on Framingham Road and smelled smoke. They returned a few minutes later to find it in flames.