Covered Bridges

Thehardway · August 20, 2006, 09:04:04 PM

The post on saving the covered bridge caught my attention. I did a quick search on the forum for covered bridges and there doesn't seem to be a whole lot of info here. Thought it might be interesting to have some forum members take some pics of covered bridges or Timber bridges near them and a brief survey of the type of construction used, joinery, etc. and the date built. I agree that these historic structures should be preserved and we seem to be losing most of them. There are only 7 left here in VA and I will try to take a look at them as well as a fair number of them in Western PA which I will be visiting around Labor Day. I have DeLorme Gazetteer maps which show covered bridges for PA VA and NC. I think they have other states as well. Is there any other interest? Perhaps a book on covered bridges from a TF perspective could even be published? From what I have read on the TFGuild website bridge surveys would count toward membership in the TTRAG for those interested in that.

Raphael · August 20, 2006, 11:23:12 PM

I wonder what TTRAG wants to see in a bridge survey? I think Heartwood needs to offer a course on documenting historic timber frames.

I suspect Jack Sobon may have already surveyed the bridges down here on one of his visits to the cathedral pines (at least the one in Cornwall) but I can get some pictures of it and Bulls Bridge (which I'll pass through tonight on my way home and tomorrow during daylight). I'll just have to give myself time to stop and remember my camera.

I guess there's no rush until Jeff gets his bear.

Mr Mom · August 21, 2006, 08:05:41 AM

In Ashtabula Ohio were i live they are building the longest cover bridge in the U.S.A.

Thanks Alot Mr Mom.

Jim_Rogers · August 21, 2006, 10:25:32 AM

Some of the TTRAG tours we have taken have included covered bridges.

There is a new fire alarm wire that they are now using in covered bridges to prevent arson from destroying them. This fine wire, small like speaker wire, sets off the alarm if it is broken (by melting) anywhere along it's length. It can be out in the open or hidden from view, and still work fine. A very good idea when it comes to fire prevention.

Timber Framing of covered bridges is another whole thing in timber framing. Very technical and lots of terms or names used that need to be understood.

It seems from what I've read that many older short steel bridges are being replaced with some wooden ones, as with proper maintenance the wooden bridges last longer.

Any survey of covered bridges would be welcomed, I'd assume.....

Jim Rogers

Don P · November 12, 2006, 10:40:17 PM

This link is to a description of a Burr truss covered bridge with some good diagrams.
He also has several other trussed bridge designs, click on the index button at the bottom of the article. Interesting reading
http://www.du.edu/~jcalvert/tech/burr.htm

Thehardway · November 14, 2006, 08:09:20 AM

Took some pics of a covered bridge while in PA and learned a lot from it. The bridge I looked at was the Kidd's Mill bridge in Mercer Co. PA which crosses the Shenango River.

It is a 120' span all wood truss bridge built in 1868 by Robert Smith who patented its design. It is one of a few examples of covered bridges in PA that are not Burr arch trusses.

I will try to post pics but having trouble with resolution/size issues getting them into the gallery.

This guy definitely had a mind for understanding leverage. There are some huge scarfed braces. The bridge was "restored" in 1990. There are quite a few metal plates/through bolts that have been installed. Not sure what is original and what was installed as repairs.

Intersting note. He sandwiched or saddled (not sure if there is a technical term for this joinery style) notched vertical timbers between un-notched main horizontal bearing members so that the horizontal members would not be weakened. Not sure if there is a technical term for this joinery. Diagonal braces then held the vertical member in place to form truss. It is like a hybrid of log cabin corner joinery and mortise/tenon. I could see some interesting application possibilities for timber framing as smaller timbers could be used in pairs to achieve longer spans with less weight but greater strength than one large member with mortices.

Additional lessons:

1. It is too dark inside covered bridges for my digital camera to work properly.
2. Grafitti and carving can make something beautiful in form and function very ugly in reality

SwampDonkey · November 14, 2006, 11:25:55 AM

There are several books written on covered bridges. We have several around here and 3 or so have been arsoned in the last few years.

Queen's county Covered Bridges

Carleton county Covered Bridges

York county Covered Bridges

Victoria county Covered Bridges

Kings county Covered Bridges

More on Kings county Covered Bridges

Covered bridges Main Page

Raphael · November 14, 2006, 12:03:29 PM

I found a fairly decent site on the 'historic' covered bridges of the Northeast USA: New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Massachusettes, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. It's at http://www.coveredbridgesite.com/

Here's a link to the three bridges near me.
In the case of the Kent Falls bridge, historic refers to the basic design not the actual bridge which was built in 1974.

MSU_Keith · November 14, 2006, 02:00:07 PM

Here's a few in Michigan:

The Ackley Bridge will be here forever w/o vandalism thanks to Henry Ford:
Ackley Bridge
Ackley Bridge More Pics

The Zehnder Holz Brucke is my favorite modern bridge:
Frankenmouth Bridge

Here is a good overview of some others:
Michigan Covered Bridges

thurlow · November 14, 2006, 02:45:46 PM

One of my wife's favorite movies is about a DanG covered bridge.................somers in Ioway..............leastwise, that's what the title says. 8)

SwampDonkey · November 14, 2006, 03:53:51 PM

Raphael, this one in Maine is near my stomp'n grounds. Watson Settlement is in New Brunswick. ;)

http://www.maine.gov/mdot-stage/covered-bridges/watson.php

View of Littleton-Watson Settlement bridge in Maine on the Meduxnekeag Stream 1996 black and white image.

The covered bridge is upriver (with shadow) and the new bridge is a few feet to the south. I have a New Brunswick 2004 color photo on my GPS program (Pathfinder), showing just the east end of the bridge.

Jim_Rogers · November 15, 2006, 10:22:23 AM

Posting active links to other sites info from the administrators of this site:

Guys, we are in a situation that strains the rules of this forum. So far it seems things are OK, but, please be aware of the posting rules of links to pictures, links to picture storage sites and copyright infringement when exploring the history of bridges, joinery, old homes and historic spots.

We are in a shady area and it might happen that a post will have to be taken off by Admin if it gets too close to the envelope.

Just a forewarning so that no feelings will be hurt.

I was advised to forward this to you all about posting links to other sites.

Jim Rogers

sawguy21 · November 15, 2006, 10:31:59 AM

I am not aware of covered bridges in this area but there are still a lot of timber railway spans. A number of long curved ones were destroyed by forest fire near Kelowna in 2003 and they are being rebuilt as part of a hiking trail system. I find them fascinating, especially since they were built without modern cranes. Must have been really hard work.

Thehardway · November 16, 2006, 04:22:52 PM

Some pics I took of the Kidds Mill Bridge. Finally got them sized right.

Tremel · November 17, 2006, 06:30:18 AM

I live here in SW PA. I grew up with covered bridges all around me. I've fished under many of these bridges. Most of the bridges in my area are an arched span.

The Akely bridge at the Henry Ford museum was remmoved from my township not far from my home. It's a perfect example of the bridges in our area.

The third weekend in September, the two southwestern counties have a covered bridge festival. It's an opertunity to visit all the bridges in the region, not to mention eat some good food and have a great time.

If anyone is ever in this area and would like to see some of these bridges, please feel free to drop me a line and I'll gladly lead you to as many as you would like to see.

The good news is that most of the townships do thier best to preserve these bridges. Even the bridges that no longer have active roads are still preserved. I'm happy to know that my kids will also be able to fish (and kiss) under these bridges, just like dad, and grandma, and greatgrandma, etc... :-)