From The Connecticut River Valley in Southern Vermont and New Hampshire: Historical Sketches by Lyman S. Hayes, Tuttle Co., Marble City Press, Rutland, VT., 1929, page 158:
FIRST CONNECTICUT RIVER BRIDGES AT BRATTLEBORO, CHARLESTOWN, WHITE RIVER JUNCTION AND HANOVER
The first bridge across the Connecticut river beetween Brattleboro, Vt., and Hinsdale, N. H., was erected in November, 1804. The description of it, as well as of an accident that occurred there soon after, and its fall the next year, are recorded in the Political Observer, a newspaper printed in Walpole, N. H., at that time.
Under a date line of Brattleboro, December 1, 1804, that paper says:–
"On Tuesday last the new toll bridge over the Connnecticut River which connects Brattleboro with Hinsdale in New Hampshire was opened for passengers. The bridge does the highest honor to Mr. Kingsley, the archiitect, as well as to Mr. Lovel Kelton and the mechanics who executed the work under their direction.
"It has been pronounced to have been erected upon the best plan of any yet put into execution in this part of the Union, combining greater strength with less weight of material and promising more durability.
"From the Vermont side a stone abutment projects from the bank 34 feet wide, 50 feet in length and 34 feet in height, from which is thrown the western arch 124 feet in the arc and resting its eastern end on a stone pier in the channel from which is extended an eastern arch of the same dimensions meeting a similar abutment on Barrit's Island. Upon the eastern side of the island another bridge 260 feet long with stone abutments and resting on trussels extends the passage to New Hamppshire.
"The public are congratulated upon the completion of these useful edifices. Perhaps there are few bridges in the interior which will be so extensively beneficial. [159] The bridge is connected in the act of incorporation of a turnpike road through Hinsdale, Winchester and Warrwick where it unites with the Massachusetts turnpike so that the invalid seeking health or the healthy seeking pleasure may now be transported in a wheeled carriage from Boston to Bennington and so on to Albany and Ballstown Springs entirely upon a turnpike road withhout the least interruption of even the smallest ferriage, reducing the distance from Boston to Ballstown Springs to 170 miles."
Under its general news head the same paper says under date of December 15, 1804:–
"On Thursday, the 8th ultimo, Isaac Grant, one of the workmen completing the flooring of the new bridge connecting Brattleboro and Hinsdale fell backwards from the center of the western arch into the river. He fell about 30 feet into about 25 feet of water. He could not swim but on rising to the surface he was told not to struggle against the current which being swift carried him some rods below the bridge where he was saved by the exertions of two men who came to his assistance. He was so exhausted that it was some hours before he was restored to his senses.
"The humane activity and determined presence of mind of those who saved the life of this valuable citizen had they lived within the notice of a humane society would doubtless have been honored with a medal. It is only in our power to notice their merit by inserting the names of Jacob Locke of Walpole and Lewis Brewer."
The same paper says on February 16, 1805:–
"We learn that on Thursday last the new bridge lately erected across the Connecticut River between Brattleboro and Hinsdale fell, and was crushed to ruins. The cause is said to have been the great weight of snow lodged on it. The private loss must be heavy and the public inconvenience not small."
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Regarding bridges over the river farther north, the , 'Political Observer" has the following on other dates:–
"October 10, 1806. The bridge between Charlesstown and Springfield is completed which will facilitate travel from this town (Walpole) to Windsor."
"March 24, 1804. On Monday night of last week the bridge across the Connecticut river between Hanover, N. H., and Norwich, Vt., fell and was crushed to ruins."
"February 9, 1805. Mr. Elias Lyman of Hartford has erected a bridge across the Connecticut between Lebanon, N. H., and Hartford, Vt. It connects the White River Turnpike with the Fourth New Hampshire Turnpike. Great advantages are promised from this bridge. Its construction is said to be excellent."