The Bridge at Lavender Pond Farm - Built June 16, 2018 by Arnold M. Graton
Lavender Pond Farm is excited to announce that they have partnered with Master Bridge Wright and Restoration Conservationist Arnold M. Graton to build an authentic covered bridge at their lavender farm in Killingworth, Connecticut.
Mr. Graton is the foremost authority on covered bridges. His company, Arnold M. Graton Associates, has built new covered bridges and restored covered bridges all over the United States. He has over 63 years of experience in covered bridge restoration and construction, including 36 years with his father, Milton Graton. Using traditional methods and materials, the Graton family has built 17 new covered bridges and restored more than 65. Most recently completing a major restoration of Beechfork Covered Bridge, a historic 210-foot bridge in Kentucky.
Like his father before him, Arnold Graton builds and restores covered bridges using authentic 19th century building techniques.
“I think that if you’re saving an old structure like a covered bridge than it is just as important to save that methodology of building that structure so you have a more complete history, said Mr. Graton. “It’s important to show future generations how it was done and can still be done.”
While at 30 feet long, a bit smaller than most Graton covered bridges, the Lavender Pond Farm bridge will be authentic in every way. Constructed with solid oak beams, lattice truss work and joined with solid wooden trunnels rather than nails or bolts, the bridge will be a wonderful compliment to the pastoral, park-like setting of New England’s largest lavender farm.
“Lavender Pond Farm was established to celebrate the beauty of nature and to do our small part to make the world a more beautiful place,” said Denise Salafia owner of Lavender Pond Farm. “Our covered bridge certainly embodies that spirit and we are incredibly honored to be working with Mr. Graton and his craftsmen to bring this beautiful structure to Killingworth.”
With onsite support from Eric Auer of Auer Builders, bridge construction will begin at Lavender Pond Farm on June 11 and culminate with a ribbon cutting at 12pm on Saturday, June 16. The public is invited to visit the farm to view the work in progress anytime the farm is open and to attend the ribbon cutting on the 16th. For more information, visit the Lavender Pond Farm Facebook Page.
For more information on Mr. Graton check out this great article in Yankee Magazine and visit his website.