Sunday, October 2, 2022

TOTAL COVERED BRIDGES IN THE COUNTRY (344)

OHIO COVERED BRIDGES (74)

 As you drive along on old country roads, up in the hills and the hollers, and on one lane gravel/dirt roads, you will occasionally see them; the old covered bridges… Nostalgia overwhelms you as you admire the historic constructed bridges of yesteryear and you take a relaxing step back in time from the modern and mostly boring, freeways that crisscross the country. Some of these bridges are still being utilized for local traffic thoroughfare, while others over the past 20-30 years have been bypassed by modern roads and bridges. All the covered bridges on this blog were originally constructed over a hundred years ago, and still sit in their original location. True, most have been partly rebuilt, sometimes with the original lumber, or similar lumber with the original designs. Often, they are partially repairs to just the roof and sidings. Some others have had added structural strengthening to support modern traffic. There are various reasons why the covered bridges were initially built, however one of the main reasons for their existence was the maintenance factor of structural integrity. As was later discovered, covered wooden bridges ultimately averaged ten times the lifespan of uncovered ones. The cover allowed the timbered trusses and braces to season properly and kept the water out of the joints, prolonging their lives by seven to eight times that of an uncovered bridge.  

I do my best to put the most accurate information on these posts; I try to get at least 3 different sources. Occasionally, even that does not always provide me correlated facts due to all sources stating different information. The length of the bridge is mostly where I find the variation. Sometimes the site gives the length based on just the span or arch and does not include the entry way. I have found that the difference is mostly on a couple of feet so I post the average, or the majority of sites with the same distance. The building date is often different as well. Some bridges I have not found the actual building date, even after searching numerous sites-history just simply forgotten or unknown.
What is amazing is to realize that the majority of Pennsylvania's covered bridges are in use everyday. Literally thousands of cars pass through the bridges on any common day.
What is really sad is the terrible hundreds of these bridges have been vandalized or destroyed.. Whether it is graffiti or arson; one wonders why do people feel the need to damage or destroy these historic bridges??
 I do want to mention a type of bibliography, resources that has helped me so much with my research and data collecting.., Wikipedia, Bridgehunter.com, Dale Travis with his numerous state's Covered Bridges List, and James Walsh with his interactive Covered Bridge Maps (Which unfortunately due to extreme service charges, is no longer active). Also, the many other state's internet sites that help me validate other sources information.
Note: to see all of the bridges, as you get to bottom of each page, click on "older posts" on lower right hand side.
CULBERTSON/WINGET RD. COVERED BRIDGE - MILFORD CENTER, OHIO
BALLARD COVERED BRIDGE - JAMESTOWN, OHIO
HELMICK MILL COVERED BRIDGE - MCCONNELLSVILLE, OHIO
BELL COVERED BRIDGE - BARLOW, OHIO
BLACKWOOD COVERED BRIDGE - SHADE, OHIO
KIDWELL COVERED BRIDGE – JACKSONVILLE, OHIO

COVERED BRIDGES IN OTHER STATES (270)


 Although initially I had planned on just doing a photoblog of Ohio covered bridges, I had found a wonderland of covered bridges as I drove through other states on my travels. As I travel through these other states searching for covered bridges, rarely do I not find myself driving on unimproved roads, mostly 1 1/2 lane where I must pull off to the shoulder as I pass other cars. Frequently I find myself on one lane dirt/gravel roads where I have had to back up to wide enough areas for the upcoming traffic can get by me. However, the beauty that finds me makes this road inconvenience seem minimal as I travel through nature's solitude of forested areas with valley, gullies, cliffs, and narrows. And, of course numerous creeks, and rivers. 

Pennsylvania presently has the most bridges of any state by far, it is estimated to have once had at least 1,500 covered bridges and is believed to have had the most in the country between 1830 and 1875. The first covered bridges of the Burr arch truss design were also built in the state. 

As I do in my Ohio covered bridges, with extreme rare exception, I do only the bridges which are over 100 years old and are remaining where they were first built. Also, that the original design which placed them on the National Registry of Historic Places, has been continued through all rehabilitations; the integrity of the original bridge has been maintained as much as possible. One exception I have to this rule is where the bridge has been moved to another needed location and has remained there for 50+ years. One of the main reasons why the covered bridges were built was because it was found that by covering the trusses to the weather elements, the bridge could last an average of seven times as long as the non-covered bridges. Also, during World War I with a shortage of steel in this country, it was more feasible to make the bridges out of wood.
What interests me about these bridge is the diverse construction methods; and as years went by on how they kept these bridges modern for today's traffic. What is extremely sad is the extreme numerous incidents where vandals have destroyed hundreds of these covered bridges. Although numerous times, careful bridge reconstruction has salvaged some of these historical sites.
One reason for a great amount of building the covered bridges was to provide access to a nearby mill. The bridge provided a constant safe platform to cross the rivers throughout the year; not having to worry about water levels or season shortened fords.
After Hurricane Ida in the first week in September 2021, I traveled to photograph the covered bridges in the Lancaster, Pennsylvania region. Sadly just a couple days before I arrived a historic record of flash flooding took place, damaging several bridges, and sweeping one, broken in pieces, to over a mile downstream. Although the saving of this bridge is very unlikely, most of the remaining bridges should be repairable.

TO BE SURE TO SEE ALL THE BRIDGES, WHEN YOU SCROLL TO THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE BE SURE TO CLICK ON "OLDER POSTS".

ALABAMA (6)

POOL FORGE COVERED BRIDGE - CHURCHTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA
WEAVERS/ISAAC SHEARER'S MILL COVERED BRIDGE - GOODVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA
BUCHER'S MILL COVERED BRIDGE - REAMSTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA
BITZER'S MILL/EBERLY'S CIDER MILL COVERED BRIDGE - EPHRATA, PENNSYLVANIA
ERB'S COVERED BRIDGE - AKRON, PENNSYLVANIA
ZOOK'S MILL/ROSE HILL COVERED BRIDGE - AKRON, PENNSYLVANIA
PINETOWN/NOLT'S POINT MILL COVERED BRIDGE - LANCASTER, PENNSYLVANIA
SPEAKMAN #1 COVERED BRIDGE - COATESVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA
MERCER'S MILL COVERED BRIDGE - ATGLEN, PENNSYLVANIA
GLEN HOPE COVERED BRIDGE - OXFORD, PENNSYLVANIA
LINTON STEPHENS COVERED BRIDGE - OXFORD, PENNSYLVANIA
PINE GROVE COVERED BRIDGE - OXFORD, PENNSYLVANIA
WHITE ROCK FORGE COVERED BRIDGE - KIRKWOOD, PENNSYLVANIA
BAUMGARDNER COVERED BRIDGE - WILLOW STREET, PENNSYLVANIA
LIME VALLEY/STRASBURG COVERED BRIDGE - WILLOW STREET, PENNSYLVANIA
LANDIS MILL COVERED BRIDGE - LANCASTER, PENNSYLVANIA
KAUFFMAN'S DISTILLERY COVERED BRIDGE - MANHEIM, PENNSYLVANIA
SHENCK'S MILL COVERED BRIDGE - LANDISVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA
FORRY'S MILL - MARIETTA, PENNSYLVANIA
SIEGRIST'S MILL COVERED BRIDGE - MARIETTA, PENNSYLVANIA
FORKSVILLE COVERED BRIDGE - FORKSVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA
KNAPPS/LUTHER'S MILL COVERED BRIDGE - TOWANDA, PENNSYLVANIA
SONESTOWN/DAVIDSON COVERED BRIDGE - SONESTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA
KRAMER COVERED BRIDGE - ORANGEVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA
PATTERSON COVERED BRIDGE - ORANGEVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA
STILLWATER COVERED BRIDGE - STILLWATER, PENNSYLVANIA
JOSIAH HESS/LAUBACH COVERED BRIDGE - ORANGEVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA
EAST & WEST PADEN COVERED BRIDGES - ORANGEVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA
WANICH COVERED BRIDGE - BLOOMSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA
RUPERT COVERED BRIDGE - BLOOMSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA
HOLLINGSHEAD COVERED BRIDGE - CATAWISSA, PENNSYLVANIA
SNYDER COVERED BRIDGE - CATAWISSA, PENNSYLVANIA
DAVIS COVERED BRIDGE - CATAWISSA, PENNSYLVANIA
ESTHER FURNACE COVERED BRIDGE - CATAWISSA, PENNSYLVANIA
PARR'S MILL COVERED BRIDGE - CATAWISSA, PENNSYLVANIA
JOHNSON COVERED BRIDGE - ELYSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA
KRIEGBAUM/KRICKBAUM COVERED BRIDGE - ELYSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA
RICHARDS COVERED BRIDGE - ELYSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA
HIMMEL'S CHURCH COVERED BRIDGE - REBUCK, PENNSYLVANIA
HENNINGER FARM COVERED BRIDGE - ELIZABETHVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA
ROCK COVERED BRIDGE - PINE GROVE, PENNSYLVANIA
SCHUYKILL/ZIMMERMAN COVERED BRIDGE - PINE GROVE, PENNSYLVANIA
JUD CHRISTIAN COVERED BRIDGE - SERENO, PENNSYLVANIA
LAIRDSVILLE/MORELAND COVERED BRIDGE - LAIRDSVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA
FACTORY/HORSHAM COVERED BRIDGE - WHITE DEER, PENNSYLVANIA
RISHEL COVERED BRIDGE - MONTANDON, PENNSYLVANIA
SAM ECKMAN COVERED BRIDGE - SERENO, PENNSYLVANIA
GOTTLIEB BROWN/SAM WAGNER COVERED BRIDGE - MILTON, PENNSYLVANIA
SHOEMAKER COVERED BRIDGE - MILLVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA
KEEFER MILL COVERED BRIDGE - WASHINGTONVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA
CREASYVILLE COVERED BRIDGE - JACKSON, PENNSYLVANIA
HASSENPLUG COVERED BRIDGE - MIFFLINBURG, PENNSYLVANIA
HAYES COVERED BRIDGE - MIFFLINBURG, PENNSYLVANIA
MILLMONT RED/GLEN IRON COVERED BRIDGE - MILLMONT, PENNSYLVANIA
DREESE'S/BEAVERTOWN COVERED BRIDGE - BEAVERTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA
RED COVERED BRIDGE - LIVERPOOL, PENNSYLVANIA
NORTH ORIENTAL/CURRY'S CORNER - COVERED BRIDGE - ORIENTAL, PENNSYLVANIA
ALINE/MEISERVILLE COVERED BRIDGE - MEISERVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA
RAMP COVERED BRIDGE - NEWBURG, PENNSYLVANIA
FLEISHER'S COVERED BRIDGE - NEWPORT, PENNSYLVANIA
ACADEMIA/POMEROY COVERED BRIDGE - ACADEMIA, PENNSYLVANIA
ST MARY'S/SHADE GAP COVERED BRIDGE - SHADE GAP, PENNSYLVANIA
SACHS/SAUCK'S COVERED BRIDGE - GETTYSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA
JACK'S MOUNTAIN COVERED BRIDGE - FAIRFIELD, PENNSYLVANIA
MARTIN'S MILL/SHINDLE COVERED BRIDGE - GREENCASTLE, PENNSYLVANIA
WITHERSPOON/RED COVERED BRIDGE - MERCERSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA
HALLS MILL COVERED BRIDGE - HOPEWELL, PENNSYLVANIA
OSTERBURG/BOWSER COVERED BRIDGE - OSTERBURG, PENNSYLVANIA
SNOOKS/DUNNINGS CREEK COVERED BRIDGE - PLEASANTVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA
HERLINE/KINTON COVERED BRIDGE - MANNS CHOICE, PENNSYLVANIA
COLVIN COVERED BRIDGE - SCHELLSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA
DIEHLS/TURNER'S COVERED BRIDGE - MANNS CHOICE, PENNSYLVANIA
CARMICHAELS COVERED BRIDGE - CARMICHAELS, PENNSYLVANIA
SAWHILL/BUFFALO CREEK COVERED BRIDGE - TAYLORSTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA
ERSKINE COVERED BRIDGE - WEST ALEXANDER, PENNSYLVANIA
CRAWFORD COVERED BRIDGE - WEST FINLEY, PENNSYLVANIA
JACKSON'S MILL COVERED BRIDGE - BREEZEWOOD, PENNSYLVANIA
LOWER HUMBERT/FAIDLEY COVERED BRIDGE - URSINA, PENNSYLVANIA
KINGS COVERED BRIDGE - NEW CENTERVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA
PACK SADDLE COVERED BRIDGE - BERLIN, PENNSYLVANIA
HEWITT COVERED BRIDGE - CHANEYSVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA
BURKHOLDER/BEECHDALE COVERED BRIDGE - GARRETT, PENNSYLVANIA
PALO ALTO/FISCHTNER COVERED BRIDGE - HYNDMAN, PENNSYLVANIA
BARRONVALE COVERED BRIDGE - NEW CENTERVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA
BELLS MILLS COVERED BRIDGE - WEST NEWTON, PENNSYLVANIA
HENRY COVERED BRIDGE - NEW EAGLE, PENNSYLVANIA
WRIGHT/CERL COVERED BRIDGE - BENTLEY, PENNSYLVANIA
LEATHERMAN COVERED BRIDGE - COKEBURG, PENNSYLVANIA
HUGHES COVERED BRIDGE - TEN MILE, PENNSYLVANIA
LANGDON L. MILLER COVERED BRIDGE - WEST FINLEY, PENNSYLVANIA
SCOTT COVERED BRIDGE - ROGERSVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA
NETTIE WOODS/WOODS COVERED BRIDGE - WAYNESBURG, PENNSYLVANIA
SHRIVER COVERED BRIDGE - ROGERSVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA
BLANEY/MAYS COVERED BRIDGE - WEST ALEXANDER, PENNSYLVANIA
DANLEY COVERED BRIDGE - CLAYSVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA
PLANT'S COVERED BRIDGE - EAST FINLEY, PENNSYLVANIA
SPROWLS COVERED BRIDGE - EAST FINLEY, PENNSYLVANIA
DAY COVERED BRIDGE - PROSPERITY, PENNSYLVANIA
BAILEY COVERED BRIDGE - AMITY, PENNSYLVANIA
TRUSAL/DICE COVERED BRIDGE - CHAMBERSVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA
HARMON'S COVERED BRIDGE - CHAMBERSVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA
KINTERSBURG COVERED BRIDGE - HOME, PENNSYLVANIA
MCGEE'S MILL COVERED BRIDGE - MCGEE'S MILL, PENNSYLVANIA
KIDD'S MILL COVERED BRIDGE -GREENVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA
BANKS COVERED BRIDGE - VOLANT, PENNSYLVANIA
MCCONNELL'S MILL COVERED BRIDGE - ROSE POINT, PENNSYLVANIA

VERMONT     (8)       

TAFTSVILLE COVERED BRIDGE - TAFTSVILLE, VERMONT
DEPOT COVERED BRIDGE - PITTSFORD, VERMONT
HAMMOND COVERED BRIDGE - PITTSFORD, VERMONT
SANDERSON COVERED BRIDGE - BRANDON, VERMONT
EAST SHOREHAM COVERED BRIDGE - SHOREHAM, VERMONT
PULP MILL COVERED BRIDGE - MIDDLEBURY, VERMONT
HALPIN COVERED BRIDGE - MIDDLEBURY, VERMONT
HOLMES CREEK COVERED BRIDGE - CHARLOTTE, VERMONT

KENTUCKY    (11)      

OLD TOWN COVERED BRIDGE - OLD TOWN, KENTUCKY
BENNETT'S MILL COVERED BRIDGE - SOUTH SHORE, KENTUCKY
JOHNSON CREEK COVERED BRIDGE - PIQUA, KENTUCKY
WALCOTT/WHITE COVERED BRIDGE - BLADESTON, KENTUCKY
DOVER/LEE'S CREEK COVERED BRIDGE - DOVER, KENTUCKY
COLVILLE COVERED BRIDGE - COLVILLE, KENTUCKY
GRANGE CITY COVERED BRIDGE - GRANGE CITY, KENTUCKY
RINGOS MILL COVERED BRIDGE - HILLSBORO, KENTUCKY
GODDARD/WHITE COVERED BRIDGE - GODDARD, KENTUCKY
SWITZER COVERED BRIDGE - FRANKFORT, KENTUCKY
MOUNT ZION/BEECH FORK COVERED BRIDGE - MAUD, KENTUCKY

NEW YORK     (2)

EAGLEVILLE COVERED BRIDGE - SHUSHAN, NEW YORK
BUSKIRK COVERED BRIDGE - BUSKIRK, NEW YORK

MAINE     (2)

PORTER/PARSONSFIELD COVERED BRIDGE - PORTER, MAINE
HEMLOCK COVERED BRIDGE - FRYEBURG, MAINE

NEW HAMPSHIRE     (1)

JACKSON/HONEYMOON COVERED BRIDGE - JACKSON, NEW HAMPSHIRE

WEST VIRGINIA     (12)


MARY'S/LITTLE MARY'S COVERED BRIDGE - CHESTER, ILLINOIS

MARYLAND     (4)

JERICHO COVERED BRIDGE - KINGSVILLE, MARYLAND
GILPIN'S FALLS COVERED BRIDGE - NORTH EAST, MARYLAND
LOYS STATION COVERED BRIDGE - THURMONT, MARYLAND
UTICA MILLS COVERED BRIDGE - FREDERICK, MARYLAND

VIRGINIA     (4)

MEEMS BOTTOM COVERED BRIDGE - MOUNT JACKSON, VIRGINIA
HUMPBACK COVERED BRIDGE -COVINGTON, VIRGINIA
SINKING CREEK COVERED BRIDGE - NEWPORT, VIRGINIA
LINKS FARM COVERED BRIDGE - MAYBROOK, VIRGINIA

INDIANA     (68)    

RICHLAND-PLUMMER CREEK COVERED BRIDGE - BLOOMFIELD, INDIANA
OLD RED COVERED BRIDGE - OWENSVILLE, INDIANA
WHEELING COVERED BRIDGE - PRINCETON, INDIANA
HUFFMAN'S MILL COVERED BRIDGE - TROY, INDIANA
CATARACT FALLS COVERED BRIDGE - CLOVERDALE, INDIANA
DEER'S MILL COVERED BRIDGE - ALAMO, INDIANA
DARLINGTON COVERED BRIDGE - DARLINGTON, INDIANA
ROB ROY COVERED BRIDGE - ATTICA, INDIANA
LANCASTER/BEARD COVERED BRIDGE - ROSSVILLE, INDIANA
ADAMS MILL COVERED BRIDGE - CUTLER, INDIANA
SPENCERVILLE/COBURN COVERED BRIDGE - SPENCERVILLE, INDIANA
WESTPORT COVERED BRIDGE - WESTPORT, INDIANA
SHIELDSTOWN/SHIELD'S MILL COVERED BRIDGE - BROWNSTOWN, INDIANA
MOSCOW COVERED BRIDGE - MOSCOW, INDIANA
WILLIAMS COVERED BRIDGE - WILLIAMS, INDIANA
MEDORA COVERED BRIDGE - MEDORA, INDIANA
SCIPIO COVERED BRIDGE - SCIPIO, INDIANA
JAMES/GRAHAM CREEK COVERED BRIDGE - VERNON, INDIANA
OTTER CREEK/HOLTON COVERED BRIDGE - HOLTON, INDIANA
BUSCHING COVERED BRIDGE - VERSAILLES, INDIANA
STOCKHEUGH/ENOCHSBURG COVERED BRIDGE - ENOCHSBURG, INDIANA
WILKINS MILL COVERED BRIDGE - BLOOMINGDALE, INDIANA
JACKSON/ROCKPORT COVERED BRIDGE - BLOOMINGDALE, INDIANA
WEST UNION COVERED BRIDGE - WEST UNION, INDIANA
MECCA COVERED BRIDGE - MECCA, INDIANA
CROOKS COVERED BRIDGE - ROCKVILLE, INDIANA
NEET COVERED BRIDGE - CATLIN, INDIANA
NARROWS COVERED BRIDGE - MARSHALL, INDIANA
MC ALLISTER'S COVERED BRIDGE - CATLIN, INDIANA
NEVINS COVERED BRIDGE - CATLIN, INDIANA
ZACKE COX COVERED BRIDGE - CATLIN, INDIANA
HARRY EVANS COVERED BRIDGE - ROSEDALE, INDIANA
ROSEVILLE COVERED BRIDGE - ROSEDALE, INDIANA 
THORPE FORD COVERED BRIDGE - ROSEDALE, INDIANA
CONLEY'S FORD COVERED BRIDGE - MANSFIELD, INDIANA
BIG ROCKY FORK/MURPHY COVERED BRIDGE - MANSFIELD, INDIANA
MANSFIELD COVERED BRIDGE - MANSFIELD, INDIANA
DUNBAR COVERED BRIDGE - GREENCASTLE, INDIANA
EDNA COLLINGS COVERED BRIDGE - BELLMORE, INDIANA
OAKALLA COVERED BRIDGE - GREENCASTLE, INDIANA
HOUCK COVERED BRIDGE - PUTNAMVILLE, INDIANA
DICK HUFFMAN COVERED BRIDGE - REELSVILLE, INDIANA
COX FORD COVERED BRIDGE - BLOOMINGDALE, INDIANA
MARSHALL COVERED BRIDGE - TANGIER, INDIANA
RUSH CREEK COVERED BRIDGE - TANGIER, INDIANA
MILL CREEK/ TOW PATH COVERED BRIDGE - TANGIER, INDIANA
CADES MILL COVERED BRIDGE - VEEDERSBURG, INDIANA
WALLACE COVERED BRIDGE - WALLACE, INDIANA
PINE BLUFF COVERED BRIDGE - BAINBRIDGE, INDIANA
ROLLING STONE COVERED BRIDGE - BAINBRIDGE, INDIANA
BAKERS CAMP/HILLIS COVERED BRIDGE - BAINBRIDGE, INDIANA
BILLIE CREEK COVERED BRIDGE - ROCKVILLE, INDIANA
PHILLIPS COVERED BRIDGE - MONTEZUMA, INDIANA
MELCHER COVERED BRIDGE - MONTEZUMA, INDIANA
SIM SMITH COVERED BRIDGE - MONTEZUMA, INDIANA
NEWPORT/MOREHEAD COVERED BRIDGE - NEWPORT, INDIANA
EUGENE COVERED BRIDGE - EUGENE, INDIANA
PORTLAND MILLS/DOOLEY STATION COVERED BRIDGE - WAVELAND, INDIANA
CORNSTALK COVERED BRIDGE - PARKERSBURG, INDIANA
FORSYTHE MILL COVERED BRIDGE - MOSCOW, INDIANA
NORRIS FORD COVERED BRIDGE - RUSHVILLE, INDIANA
NORTH MANCHESTER COVERED BRIDGE - NORTH MANCHESTER, INDIANA
ROANN COVERED BRIDGE - ROANN, INDIANA
SMITH COVERED BRIDGE -RUSHVILLE, INDIANA
OFFUTT'S FORD COVERED BRIDGE - ARLINGTON, INDIANA
POTTER'S COVERED BRIDGE - NOBLESVILLE, INDIANA
CUMBERLAND/MATTHEWS COVERED BRIDGE - MATTHEW

NEW JERSEY   (1)


TENNESSEE  (3)


MISSOURI  (4)



SOUTH CAROLINA  (1)

JERICHO COVERED BRIDGE - KINGSVILLE, MARYLAND




















 LITTLE GUNPOWDER FALLS
BALTIMORE/HARFORD COUNTIES
BUILT - 1865

Length - 88' ... ENE of Kingsville. Jerusalem Rd. NE 2.0 miles from jct with US1 in Kingsville, S. on Jericho Rd. 0.25 miles to the bridge. Built by Thomas Forsyth, a Baltimore machinist, at a cost of $3,125. Named after the nearby Jericho mills which the bridge was built for to have access to. Major rehabilitation was done on the bridge in 1937, during which a Queenpost Truss was added to the original Burr Arch Truss. The Queenpost Truss stretched across all ten side panels of the bridge. Metal braces, tie rods, new flooring and new walls were also added at this time. Rehabilitated also in 1983 at a cost of $280,000, which time included installing a flooring consisting of 2"x 4" boards, set on edge, and adding five steel reinforcing girders hidden underneath its deck for support to a portion of the travel section of the bridge. The reinforcing steel allowed safe weight of 15 tons to cross bridge. Also a new roof and repairs to the masonry abutments were completed, The latest restoration was completed in 2015-2016 at a cost of approximately $1.7 million. Posted to the National Register of Historic Places on September 13, 1978. Open to through traffic. Truss Type - Covered Burr Arch Truss variation with a added Queenpost for added support.
World Guide to Covered Bridge Number - 20-03-01 Baltimore County, 20-12-01 Harford County

GPS +39.46000, -76.38667

Saturday, October 1, 2022

GILPIN'S FALLS COVERED BRIDGE - NORTH EAST, MARYLAND


















 NORTH EAST CREEK
CECIL COUNTY
BUILT - 1860

Length - 119' ... N. of North East. MD272 N. 3.0 miles from jct with US40 on the N. side of North East to the bridge on the E. side of the road. Built by Joseph G. Johnson. Bridge was named for the nearby Gilpin Falls, named for Samuel Gilpin, a distant relative of the Washington family, who acquired extensive land holdings in Cecil County in the early 1730s. Gilpin harnessed the Falls'power to operate a grist and saw mill. Since Gilpin's mill there has been several other mills who have operated in this area. Today only a few remnants remain. The bridge was erected adjacent to and upstream of Samuel Gilpin's mills and dam and crossed the millpond formed by it. Bridge was rehabilitated in 1959, 1990, 2009, and 2015. Bridge was bypassed in 1936 when Rt.-272 was added. Posted to the National Register of Historic Places on December 3, 2008. Closed to motor traffic. Truss Type - Covered Burr Arch Through Truss.
World Guide to Covered Bridge Number - 20-07-01

GPS +39.64884, -75.95563