A first kiss, a stolen kiss, a last kiss — countless moments of affection have taken place within the privacy of Charlotte County’s covered bridges.
On frosty winter nights, suitors would court their sweethearts. With lanterns burning to light the way and the couple wrapped in fur throws, they would enjoy romantic sleigh rides. The sound of horse hooves clip-clopping amplified as they crossed the wooden floorboards of a covered bridge.
These structures were built with practicality in mind. Enclosed with sides and a roof, the bridges were designed to protect wooden spans from the elements. However, they quickly and affectionately became known as “kissing bridges” because, once inside, young couples could steal a kiss and cuddle in the time it took for a horse to pull a sleigh or carriage from one end to the other.
According to Ray Boucher, President of the Covered Bridge Conservation Association of New Brunswick, the oldest of these bridges in the province dates back to the late 1800s. At one time, New Brunswick boasted hundreds of covered bridges, but that number has dwindled to just 58.
The association is actively involved in advocating for the preservation of the province’s remaining covered bridges.
Boucher says he fell in love with covered bridges as a boy in 1963 when he first saw one. He’s been enamored with them ever since. After retiring, he began working on a photo book documenting the province’s covered bridges. Over the past decade, he has also produced items such as calendars featuring these structures, which he sells through his company, Kissing Bridge Publications. People from around the world visit New Brunswick to see its covered bridges, including the seven located in Charlotte County.
Patrick Toth, the association’s vice president, developed a passion for covered bridges in his native Ohio. Their history, design, and craftsmanship captured his interest. Now a resident of New Brunswick for the past 30 years, his enthusiasm for these historic structures remains undiminished.
Visiting a covered bridge is a sensory experience. Not only are they visually stunning in every season, but there’s also something magical about the sound of water running beneath them.
Many who grew up near these bridges feel a deep emotional connection to them. They recall fishing under the bridges or cooling off in the streams on sweltering summer days.
The history of these bridges makes them even more cherished by those who see them as far more than just a means to cross a river or stream.
Covered bridges in the province are now easier to locate thanks to blue signs featuring a covered bridge illustration that points the way.
Both Toth and Boucher say that when visiting covered bridges—whether in Charlotte County or elsewhere in New Brunswick—they inevitably meet others who share their love for these structures.
And if you happen to find yourself at one of these covered bridges, don’t be surprised if it inspires you to steal a kiss from someone you love.
Laverne Stewart has spent her entire career as a writer, journalist, and communications professional.She’s won multiple literary and journalism awards for her work. After a year in radio, she made the move to TV news, spending 11 years with CTV in Halifax, Saint John, and Fredericton. Stewart has also worked in government communications, most recently in the Office of the Premier. Stewart is a published author and now works on feature stories from her community and beyond. Her life is full and happy thanks to the people who are in it. She is married to her husband Robert. She is mother to Mary Louise and Nicolas. Also included in her family is Sally, a Labrador retriever, and three cats; Dusty, Joe, and Clancy. She can be reached at lavernestewart24@outlook.com.
