Covered Bridges: Spanning Time

This program is made by NPT to serve all of our diverse communities and is made possible by the generous support of our members. Thank you covered bridges open a window onto America's Restless every day past the heyday of covered bridges was the 19th century as farming industry and population pushed the frontier over westward covered bridges were built along ancient trails and stream crossings often near timber grist mill. They offered travellers shelter from storms and gathered villagers for a public or secret meetings. In their day covered bridges were considered marvels of engineering and so designers and builders are the rock stars of covered bridges

their bridge supports or trusses are variations on a triangle or for longer spans the graceful arch. The earliest designers like town and Theodore Burr patented their trust designs and charged up to $5 a foot for their use. Covered bridges may seem quintessential Americana but the idea was brought to our shores from Europe a craftsman adapted covered bridges to their own local streams and stone and timber thereby giving expression to a true American genius. Today's passionate devotees of covered bridges nicknamed Bridger's come from all walks of life. Archivists engineers professors writers They're the unsung heroes behind many restoration and preservation efforts

for covered bridges are still vanishing helpless victims of vandalism flood fire and neglect. Join us for this exploration of covered bridges of Maryland and surrounding states an astounding journey along the byways of time. Maryland's first two covered bridges were built by private investors over the mighty Cisco Hana river in the early 1900s. The 4000 foot covered bridge at Port Deposit was an engineering wonder of many spans. But Mike Dixon Cecil County historian recalls how it failed infamously the want to Port Deposit collapse under the weight of a herd of 110 cattle one time.

Today Maryland has six authentic historic covered bridges all in northern counties. None survived over the subsequent Hanna but the rest are all close enough to each other for a leisurely weekend road trip. The rocky road covered bridge built in 1856 over Owens creek north of there Mont in Frederick County is Maryland's shortest covered bridge and only forty five feet. It has a simple triangular truss aficionados called a king post and this is kind of a picture postcard setting. Jeff Yoakum is with the nonprofit Frederick County covered bridge Preservation Society and lives near Rocky Road Bridge. Like all old bridges rocky road has seen some history. They say Confederate soldiers cross the bridge on the way to Gettysburg. There is some evidence and Jeb Stuart actually took horses off of the farmhouse where I live and their search is saying action all way back to the civil war

covered bridges massive timbers are last reminders of America's mighty trees of long gone virgin forests. Many of these timbers bear the mark of craftsman's tools or traces of one thousandth Century Village notices or even secret messages. Even vandals carving their initials feel the lure of covered bridges as places of lively local identity and expression. Nowhere is the sense of community more evident than at the Loyce station bridge. Frederick County 90 feet long it spans Owens creek and is named for a nearby railroad stuff both part of the country's transportation history. Loyce station was built about 1860 and during its long life the bridge survived floods and ice jams. But in 1991 fell victim to the fiery torch of an arsonist. It was a senseless tragedy one that echoes again and again the story of covered bridges.

Nothing remained of the beloved landmark but a charred skeleton and the invincible spirit of the community. We didn't want just the bridge replaced with a modern read that we all want to recover bridge back to the community even sold shingles at a dollar apiece and Loy station reopened three years later with a jubilant rededication ceremony. We had about 7000 people show up. There was a just a community effort to do something put back into the community. Utica Mills covered bridge over Fishing Creek in Frederick County originally spanned the Monaca sea river. Dean Fitzgerald is president of the Frederick County covered bridge Preservation Society. It was destroyed during the Johnstown flood in 1989. After the flood the debris was relocated here and reconstructed in 1891 the 101 foot bridge is

supported by a soaring arch. And like all three Frederick County bridges is a favorite of Civil War buffs antique car enthusiasts and bicycle groups. Brian King rides with the Frederick pedlars Bicycle Club. The sound closes in on you and it's usually darker than the surrounding area so it feels like you are just going through a tunnel and riding through history and then emerging back out into the countryside. Further east Baltimore and Hartford counties each lay claim to half of Jericho covered bridge. The 84 foot long bridge spans the little gunpowder Falls River which like many rivers forms the boundary between two counties Jericho bridge link historic Jerusalem Mills with cotton factories downstream and now lies within gunpowder Falls State Park. John McGrane is the Baltimore County historian. There was a tradition that you should wish for something when you go over the bridge whether

the wishes are granted. Is that not the territory of historians. Cecil County once had at least twenty one covered bridges though only two remain today. One hundred and one thousand foot Gilpin's falls covered bridge spans northeast creek. It was built in 1860 along a major route from Pennsylvania to the upper Chesapeake Bay and its Fisherman's Wharf So the bridge hasn't borne traffic since the 1930s but still mischievous Mike Abrams remembers when it did. I was born raised about a hundred yards from the very well used to make my pies and get up on top of the bridge and want to put the new car would come through we drop on it because we knew they couldn't get up on the bridge to get out of Earl's simmers also played near the bridge as a child and it's just that we cherish the memory of those childhood things simmers and others are classic Bridger's obsessed with covered

bridges. They've worked tirelessly with the county to raise funds to restore the bridge and gain recognition for it on the county and national historic registers restoration is a daunting engineering challenge. The bridge was originally built for about $2000 restoration today one point two million. The problem is how do you lift 119 foot long forty three ton structure to take out the ends of these arches replace them. Work began on historic restoration in the spring of 2009. Time has been kinder to the Foxcatcher farms bridge built over Big Creek in Cecil County. Mike Dixon Cecil County historian Foxcatcher bridge was built in 1830 and it was built by Ferdinand

wood for the county commissioners. Cost him one thousand one hundred seventy five dollars and it still stands today. Convention hunters and Hounds once chased foxes through this bridge when it was part of the DuPont estate. Today the bridge is owned by the fair Hills natural resources management area. On Nathan Graham's beat. Walking through the bridge it's almost like an old farmhouse. It creaks there's that certain feel of old wood underneath of you. And it has a certain smell to it. I personally like how it looks in all four seasons. The area around the changes yet it stays steadfast. Once Delaware boasted as many as 28 covered bridges all in Newcastle County today only three authentically restored covered bridges remain. Marjorie McNinja a reference archivist at the Hadley library visited

rustic Ashland covered bridge before it was restored and after she published bridges. Her book on Delaware covered bridges in 1905 Ashland bridge was built sometime between 1850 and 1865. But there had been a mill at the site since the 60s and 70s. Like many early covered bridges Ashlan was built by a private milliner even though it lay on a post or public road in Ashland covered bridges only 52 feet long and spans gentle little red clay creek. The area supported agriculture rather than heavy industry early on. So Ashlan was built with a simple but sufficient lattice truss design. The type of bridge was patented by a lethal town an 18 20 and there were seven bridges of that

type on the red clay creek. It was expedient and they didn't need to use any iron rods or anything in it. They would build the plank bridge across the creek and then they would build the housing for cover and then plop it on top of the plank bridge. Stepping into a covered bridge is like stepping into another world because you have the play of light. You have the the noise of the planks underfoot and you have the the river flowing underneath that you can see the Ashland bridge is on the national register for a story places and has a lot of the charm of yesteryear. Because of its listing on the national register and because it's a working bridge Ashlan covered bridge was restored using innovative fireproof materials across the country many state departments of transportation fund covered bridge

restoration when the structures still bear traffic. Local advocates lobby for historic accuracy. Marjorie McNinja visited the day Ashlyn covered bridge was reopened by the Delaware Department of Transportation. The use of the newer materials and the bridge do not detract from its own charm. The restoration of the Ashland bridge was sure this community the bridge will be standing 150 years from now. Another Delaware historic covered bridge Smith's bridge was built in 1839 with a long Burr arch Una Dupont Jr. descendant and namesake of the 19th century DuPont company founder has a mansion on the hill overlooking Smith's covered bridge on the Brandywine Creek. My parents

were avid canoeists fact we would take overnight camping trips on the brain the wind Brandywine Creek is famous for its picturesque beauty and one lane Smith's bridge is helping to keep the valley unspoiled by urban sprawl and speed. Many of the younger set around here have learned to call Smith's Ridge the manors bridge because the people that drive over it are so pleased that they wave to each other and stop on necessarily to let the other one go through the ruined foundation of an old grist mill can be seen on the banks near the bridge. Legend has it that during George Washington's campaigns of Brandywine Valley Forge this mill owner secretly loyal to the British crown provided flour to Washington's troops. Well it didn't take long

for the Washington's armies people to find out that there was broken glass in the flour and they knew exactly where it came from. And the legend says that the miller was found hanging from the crane lifts and barrels up at the top of the mill. They did not survive in a department was not here the night Smiths bridge met its fiery demise by arson in 1961 after it had been painstakingly re stored there came mischief night and which it mysteriously caught fire and we later learned that five gallons of gasoline had been dumped from an automobile as it drove through the bridge. We hustled out here when we heard there was a fire and I took pictures and there was a sad state. Smith's bridge was restored again in 2002 by the Delaware Department of Transportation.

A third historic covered bridge on private landed Wood Dale was washed away by floods from Tropical Storm Henri in 2003. It was authentically restored and reopened in late 2008. Pennsylvania boasts America's first covered bridge and has over 200 covered bridges still standing more than any other state in the country. Choosing just a handful to visit is like trying to decide in a candy store. But these flavors are oldest longest just plain typical unique fancy Roger McCain is professor in the Department of Economics and International Business at Drexel University. He publishes articles with titles like fuzzy confidence intervals in the theory of economic rationality and he was the first to post a list of covered bridges on the World Wide Web. Way

back in the early 1990s high tech met old tech. That's probably how I became a little more mellow and that crazy covered bridge got on the wrong Internet. One of the things I really enjoy about finding the covered bridges is that so many of them are really quite remote spots places you wouldn't go for any practical purposes a home can be tricky to find. The eastern P.A. here we come. There are two Dutch styles here fancy and plain in the Berks County the area that people call the fancy Dutch Country. You would see some very ornate covered bridges with head sides and go on a little farther right. Historians debate whether hex signs have ornamental or magical meaning but they reflect fancy Dutch rather than plain or Amish and Mennonite styles

words as bridge or words as Red Bridge is a centerpiece of the Berks County Heritage Center built in 1867 with a burr arch. It stretches more than 200 feet over top of Hawking Creek the longest single span covered bridge in Pennsylvania closed to traffic. Word says Covered Bridge has beautiful hacks are remote. Dr. Bell the station covered bridge was built in 1869 over Madan creek. It still bears traffic and has both hex signs and fancy opening more portal architecture. Bill very long ago in 1830 to recent years a mill bridge

has a burr arch and spans one hundred twenty four feet over mana tawny creek. It's Burke's county's oldest covered bridge and has lovely Jx are adjacent to the bridge is a nonworking the picturesque old stone grist mill were huge. Lancaster County southwest of Berks County is noted for its Amish and Mennonite

culture. The county has the second largest number of covered bridges of any state in the country. Berks County was fancy Dutch Lancaster County is plain Dutch Pine Grove covered bridge over OC to where Oak Creek dates from the 1880s. Other bridges here had been swept away by floods. Pine Grove is another covered bridge with a split personality. The far end of the bridge is definitely Chester County. Definitely in Lancaster County and perhaps a little bit us for a lot of no good or really two bridges here because it's a long double bridge there are two successive arches on each side of the bridge. Pine Grove covered bridge was restored in 2008. Not far from Pine Grove lies white rock or White Rock forge bridge it's a smaller bridge is on the west branch of Oughterard crakes hall it's in the same

watershed is one of those bridges that unplaced most people don't go very often. This is a pretty old bridge in a sense. The original covered bridge here was built in 1846 but Ty was destroyed in the 1880s and when the new bridge was built it was built to exactly the pattern of the old bridge. This really is quite a typical Lancaster County bridge. Like many other that has the barge structure and a fairly simple not very decorated portal. Just really a typical Lancaster County bridge it truly is. Picturesque XIX mill covered bridge also known as coal calico bridge number seven spans called Calico creek. Covered bridges of old work called kissing bridges sheltering walls in cool darkness framed a perfect opportunity for a private tryst. The romance of covered

bridges remains. This couple is having their engagement pictures taken a beautiful enduring sooks milk covered bridge. Built with a burr arch. This bridge is over 160 years old. Unlike other covered bridges in the area XIX mill has survived modern traffic and the ravages of Hurricane Agnes. What you see here today is pretty much the bridge that was built here in the 1840s. By now you've noticed a lot of covered bridges use a supporting truss called a burr arch patented way back in 18 0 4 by Feodor Burr cousin of the notorious Vice President Aaron Burr. A couple of notable exceptions to bridges with arches lie in western Pennsylvania. So that's where we're headed next. Dramatic McConnell's milk covered bridge in McConnell's mill State Park in Lawrence County

has crisscrossed supports called a haole truss. After the designer. Iron rods allow the bridge to be tightened the design so clever it was later adopted by railroad covered bridges across America. Tom wall sic is president of the Theodore Burke covered bridge Society of Pennsylvania. While sick in the society are very active in promoting and preserving covered bridges the McConville bridge is located across the Slippery Rock Creek kayaks and canoe oars come here for the white water rafting. And it's also very dangerous. The. Area was formed with the melting of the glaciers of the bogs a lot of these large boulders here. The bridge itself. Was built in 1874. We're quite fortunate here in western Pennsylvania still have a beautiful example of a covered bridge and grist mill setting and also where the water falls in the background which gave power to the mill.

Even back in the old days cover bridges were a popular spot. People would gather and enjoy the scenery. We have here a shot of McConnell's mill bridge at the early turn of the century with a group of people in their Sunday finest. Tom wall sic is love covered bridges since he was 12. He's a collector by nature photographs of postcards pins and more. All with covered bridges. This is a mere fraction of his collection brought to kids mill covered bridge over the shin Engo river. Kids mill is the only authentic remaining covered bridge in Mercer County and is notable for its simple crisscross. Smith's trust developed by Robert Smith of typical New City Ohio. It begins to rain and kids mill a story in itself. The bridges recovered mainly to protect the main wooden truss members from the elements. The snow and the rain and I uncovered one

bridge had a life span of 10 or 20 years. But a properly covered wooden bridge had a life span of 40 50 even longer years of evidence by this bridge was built. Eight hundred sixty eight. And here it is still standing today. Kids mill was bypassed in the 1980s. It no longer bears traffic. For the last stop in Pennsylvania but hardly Pennsylvania's last covered bridge. We return to a classic style except the bank's covered bridge is painted an unusual luminous white. The banks cover bridge and Lawrence County Pennsylvania was built an eight thousand eighty nine across with a machete creek. And here's a typical bar arj truss style. Well worth the trip off the beaten path. West Virginia is rugged mountain valleys and Wild Rivers boasts 17

standing covered bridges most in northern counties. As vital transportation links bridges are often battlegrounds during war. In fact maximum load strength for covered bridges in the 19th century were calculated using the weight of marching troops in close order. Filippi covered bridge over the Tigard Valley River in Barber County is the most visited historic bridge in West Virginia built when the state was still part of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Emory Kemp is a retired professor of civil engineering and founder of the Institute for the history of technology and industrial archaeology at West Virginia University. Dr. camp designed the restoration of this bridge and more than a dozen others from New York to New Orleans. This is a Philippine bridge. Completed in 1852. It was the seat of the first skirmish of the Civil War. Confederate forces

occupied the bridge. Union forces on this. Lofty ridge over here. And fired on to the. Rebel position. And they retreated hastily down Main Street which is just over here and they were derisively called by their union forces. Has the feel of the races. West Virginia's pioneering covered bridge builder led mule Chenoweth design Philippian nearly 20 others. The story goes that he won the contract by standing on his model of the trusses before the Virginia Board of Public Works Chenowith build Filippi to last but it was nearly destroyed by devastating accidental fire in 1909. Emery camp used the original specs to restore this unusual double span double lane 300 foot bridge. It's a very notable bridge and the workmanship is outstanding.

Barry Ville another Chenowith bridge was built in 1853 with a burr arch. It crosses Buffalo Creek in Marion County. During the famous Jones raid during the Civil War. Nearby mill owners convinced the Confederate general not to burn down this bridge. It survived. Part of the 19th century turnpike system but is now safe from traffic. It's never been reinforced so it remains an outstanding example of a Theodore Burr. Truss bridge. Emery camp is a collector of rare 19th century tools. We have found particularly on the bigger bridges like this one. And some of these hand tools are the most efficient way. To do the restoration work. Also in Barbara County is lovely Carrollton bridge built in

1856 over the Buckhannon river. The bridge has been reinforced to carry heavy coal trucks. A concrete contrast to its delicate decoration. This star shaped nogo right here is very reminiscent of Pennsylvania rather than the Virgin years. And one of the outstanding features of this bridge is the stellar work done by an old Brian O'Brian also had done the stone work for Filippi bridge to the north. The stone was Cori locally and obviously brought here by horse and wagon. It's laid out dry with no mortar. This is a particularly fine example of stone masonry that was used repeatedly on covered bridges. Perhaps no Covered Bridge in West Virginia expresses local craftsmanship better than Indian creek covered bridge in the southern part of the state Monroe County. Many of the covered bridges were built by. Unschooled builders.

This one is rather unique in that these were teenagers. And that's probably its most notable feature. The Weikel brothers as they told it later had recently invested $10 each in a portable sawmill against their mother's advice. They were only 15 and 18 years old after all. Soon after the boys bid on the Indian Creek bridge contract. And actually won. They built their bridge with a simple howl truss. It was 1898. The bridge was built along the ancient north south Seneca Indian trail. It no longer bears traffic but for decades has been the picturesque destination for visitors from nearby salt sulphur springs resort. Yes Virginia has aid covered timber bridge is still standing. Five are preserved as public landmarks. Three or on private land.

Leo Libby Pearce has tirelessly documented their colorful histories and precise dimensions in her book. Covered bridges in Virginia. Nine old ladies in the slow lane. Since publication the ninth covered bridge has been destroyed by flood. The Pierce's own life forms a book too. She served as a Marine worked as a spy a design draftsman transportation engineer and is co-founder of the covered bridge society of Virginia Mimi's bottom covered bridge on the north fork of the Shenandoah River in Shenandoah County was the one that first inspired Lee all the peers to pursue covered bridges. I have been so used to working on stage. Concrete modern day bridges. And when I first came up here. I couldn't believe it. Here is all this traffic coming our way. And it was a timber bridge. That I became really fascinated and changed all my

plans. Went south. I mean I started every cover breaking. News bottom was built in 1894 with the burr arch by John Wood's as a link from a private farm to the main road. At two hundred three and a half feet means bottom is the longest timber covered bridge in Virginia. And the only one still bearing traffic. In a sad familiar story. Halloween pranksters burned it down in 1976. But with the help of Emery camp this bridge was historically restored by the Virginia Department of Transportation. Now members bottom is on the state and national registers of Historic Places. Built an eight hundred fifty seven humpback covered bridge over Dunlap Creek in Allegheny County is the oldest standing covered bridge in Virginia. It's important because it's the only bridge in the beginning it.

Was the hump day done and also in the United States. Granddaddy humpback as it's known was built along US 60 once known as the buffalo trail. It's a hundred seven feet in length with a four foot one inch rise of the arch. Humpback covered bridge is a survivor of the Civil War. Floods the railroad and it one time neglect. Now it's on the state and national registers of historic places were the inspiration for Leo Lapeer says poem. So this timber deck stood creaking ground as wheels and herds crossed over settlers paddlers soldiers do. They were welcome all who came. 70 foot long Sinking Creek Bridge was built in 1916 over Sinking Creek. Closed to traffic. Local donations saved this bridge. It's now maintained

by Giles County. Sinking Creek Bridge has an unusual local adaptation to farming life. There's a little in the past and that makes it easier. For the farm animals to get back and forth. But it's very unique I don't know of another mine like it anywhere. This covered bridge lies along the Appalachian Trail and many visitors leave their sweet impressions on the guestbook. STEVE PEARCE oldest son has documented all of Virginia's covered bridges with his fine photographs including the three historic covered bridges on private land not open to the public. Links farm and see Kay Reynolds covered bridges also along Sinking Creek in Giles County and the beetle or farm covered bridge in Rockingham County. Leo and Steve helped launch the emerald Virginia covered bridge festival in will one Patrick County. The June festival celebrates

bobwhite and Jack creeks covered bridges both over Smith River. The smallest of the two jacks creek covered bridge was built in 1914 and back then was the only access to Jack's Creek Primitive Baptist Church. The bridge uses natural bedrock for support and parishioners of wade into the creek for baptism. Betty Perry is a granddaughter of Walter Weaver who designed Jack's creek and built this bridge bobwhite in one thousand twenty one. Her father remembered it being built family folklore. My father loved to tell stories about this bridge how they would walk. Down here to bring the water and bring food for the barefooted and they would stop and play with children along the way. And the bridge has been a lot. By the late 1500s iron bridges were being pre-fabricated and assembled

on site. Brought in by the railroad the next great link in America's transportation history. The era of covered bridges is long gone but a new one is beginning. As those who cherish timber covered bridges in their local histories work to preserve and protect this world treasure. These marriages are the foreigners out of a magnificent steel bridges that we have today. The covered bridge is an American icon. And there's an increasing interest now in interpret inglés and restoring them. Well. How many times you hear somebody say let's go out and look at the old barns and covered bridges. It's it's. Part of American tradition.

They are or most of them pretty old or they're taking you back to a time that most of us probably feel pretty so little about you might almost call it a slow moving fire machine. Weddings took place their courting took place there. That offered shelter to travelers. It's a time past. That marks a time pass. For such a noble part of the fabric of our community here but. Not taking care of them. This is what is wrong. These are our bridges America's heritage spanning and pausing for just a moment. The irreversible. River of time. The.

42. This program was made by NPT to serve all of our diverse communities

preview and support our programs at NPT dot org slash real changes.