It has been well known throughout the various Covered Bridge Communities that the Hyde Hall Covered Bridge [WGN 32-39-01]located in the Glimmerglass State Park in Otsego County is the oldest covered bridge in New York State. Throughout the past two years, however, a dedicated group of covered bridge experts have been busy writing letters and making phone calls to determine if the Hyde Hall Covered Bridge might just be the oldest existing covered bridge in the United States. I am pleased to be able to announce that the paperwork is in, results have been tallied and experts now agree that yes indeed, the Hyde Hall Covered Bridge is the oldest existing Covered Bridge in the United States with a documented construction date of 1825!
    In cooperation with the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation a celebration has been scheduled at the Hyde Hall Covered Bridge on September 9, 2006 so please mark your calendars now so you don’t miss this great historic event. As the summer progresses, more exciting details will be added to the program. If you would like more information, or would like to volunteer to help with the event, please contact us at: bobtrish68@frontiernet.net or call us at 607-674-9656.

SPECIAL NOTICE: Dan Brock reports that it was brought to the attention of the National Society for the Preservation of Covered Bridges that some United States Counties were not in alphabetical order according to the standards set by NACO (National Association of Counties Organization.) an organization that represents the United States and its counties. There are 25 states that have counties listed out of alphabetical order, including New York. The following counties have new county numbers: Saratoga, 45; Schenectady, 46; Schoharie, 47; Schuyler, 48; Seneca, 49; and St. Lawrence, 50. As a result, the following bridges in New York State will now have new World Guide numbers: Copeland Covered Bridge, NY 32-45-01 and the Blenheim Covered Bridge, NY 32-47-01. Please change your records accordingly. For a complete listing for other states, please contact Dan Brock.

Indiana

Putnam County – Members of the county tourism board recently indicated that they are committed to seeing their covered bridges preserved by setting aside $500 for the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department. During the summer months, Lt. Col. Steve Fenwick sends out non-violent offenders from the inmate work crews to clean up debris and overgrown brush around the county’s remaining covered bridges. This clean-up has improved visibility and safety for motorist, as well as spruced up the look of the bridges. In the past, the tourism bureau has purchased weed trimmers and gasoline for the department to use on these projects.
    One Putnam County inmate, James Miller, is fascinated with covered bridges. He also has some wonderful artistic talent. Jim recently added fresh paint to the cement block walls in the jail. One day he also painted a detailed emblem on the medical office door. Soon after, a detailed police emblem on Lt. Col. Steve Fenwick office door. Steve was so impressed with his work, that he asked Jim, a tattoo artist by trade, to come up with a rendering of the Putnam County’s covered bridge map that would be used as a mural on an interior wall of the Putnam County Jail. Using colored pencils on poster-size paper, Jim came up with a professional-quality drawing which included a wispy feminine ghost haunting the Edna Collings Covered Bridge. The ghost legend is a local favorite of the bridge. Jim said he hopes that the 31- bridge pencil drawing may one day be reproduced as a poster for tourists and county residents. Although the mural project will not be seen by most members of the public, it brightly decorates the corridor traveled daily by jail staff and inmates.

Oakalla/Shoppell Covered Bridge –- IN 14-67-10 Kara Lawless, Director of the Putnam County Convention and Visitors Bureau states that structural repairs may be needed on this bridge as police discovered evidence last year that someone tried to set the bridge on fire.

Oregon

Wimer Covered Bridge -- OR 37-15-05 – Great news from Bill Cockrell! Jackson County has received a $342,000 grant from the Highway Bridge Repair or Replacement Fund, a federal needs-based bridge replacement program, to rebuild the Wimer Covered Bridge that collapsed on July 6, 2003. This is great news indeed!

Hayden Covered Bridge -- OR 37-02-05 Benton County Public Works has placed an emergency 5-ton weight limit on the Hayden Covered Bridge due to recent damage to the bridge when a log truck tried to drive through it. This is truly unfortunate, especially since $600,000 worth of repairs and improvements were made to the bridge in 2003. The bridge will be closed and no doubt local residents will again have to take a 6 mile bumpy detour during this time while the bridge is being repaired. (See similar incidents below in Pennsylvania.)

Pennsylvania

Congratulations Pennsylvania for saving two of your historic landmarks. What a great feeling to report on bridges being saved instead of lost!

Larkin Covered Bridge– PA 38-15-11 The Larkin Covered Bridge in Chester County has a new home on Graphite Mining Road, just 0.2 miles off Byers Road in Eagle, PA and a dedication ceremony was held on June 24th to celebrate. Special thanks to George Conn for keeping us informed on the progress of this bridge and for sending along these photos taken in May 2006.

Fort Hunter/Everhart Covered Bridge – PA 38-50-44/38-22-05 Also finding a new home in Pennsylvania is the Fort Hunter/Everhart Covered Bridge. This bridge was originally located in Perry County, between Centre and Juniata Townships on LR50035 which is now SR4010 across Little Buffalo Creek. It was dismantled in 1940 and moved to the Fort Hunter Museum in Susquehanna Township in Dauphin County and rebuilt and renamed the Fort Hunter Bridge. It was dismantled again in 1979/80 and put in storage due to its deteriorating condition. This bridge has now been reassembled in the Fort Hunter Park and looks fantastic! Special thanks to Bob and Judy Kuether for sharing these great photos with us taken on May 31, 2006.

Fort Hunter/Everhart Covered Bridge – PA 38-50-44/38-22-05	Fort Hunter/Everhart Covered Bridge – PA 38-50-44/38-22-05

Pleasantville Covered Bridge – PA 38-06-01 Two security barriers, as well as a bridge beam was recently damaged on the Pleasantville Covered Bridge. Police say a moving van went through the first barrier and as they tried to go through the second barrier got stuck. This 150 year old bridge was damage by a truck in 2004 just one month after it was restored. The bridge is presently closed until repairs can be made to the structure. Knox/Valley Forge Covered Bridge – PA 38- 15-15 The roof of this historic bridge located in the Valley Forge National Historical Park was damaged by a vehicle exceeding a 10-foot height restriction on the bridge. (Is this beginning to sound familiar folks?) The bridge is now closed and PennDOT officials said repairs would take a few days. The bridge carries about 2,000 vehicles per day so this will be a real detriment to area residents. The bridge was rehabilitated in 1996. PennDOT will work with the National Park Service and Pennsylvania Museum and Historical Commission to preserve the historic character of the span.

Virginia

Bob White – VA 46-68-01/Jacks Creek – VA 46-68-02 A contractor is currently working on two of Patrick’s County’s covered bridges. This will be the first time the sheathing on the outside of the Bob White Covered Bridge has ever been removed. Thanks to Steve and Leola Pierce for sending along these recent photos. (Please take note of the special volunteer in the water in front of the truck in the photo on the left.)

Bob White Covered Bridge - Spring 2006	Leola Pierce noting points of interest

CK Reynolds/Red Maple Farm Covered Bridge – VA 46-35-03 In September 2004, this bridge almost went downstream during a hurricane. We are pleased to say that the roadwork to the bridge has now been repaired and the bridge has been saved. Photos below taken by Steve Pierce.

CK Reynolds Covered Bridge - September 2004	CK Reynolds Covered Bridge - Spring 2006

Please note: The Virginia Covered Bridge Society now has their own website: www.cbsva.org They will be updating it on a regular basis and adding an online store so be sure to check it often.

Covered Bridge Festivals in Virginia:

Saturday, June 17, 2006 – 10 am to 5 pm at the Jack’s Creek and Bob White Covered Bridges in Woolwine, VA. For vendor information, contact Jeannie Frisco at: jfrisco@co.patrick.va.us. The Best Western (276-632-5611) in Martinsville, VA is offering discounted rates but you must mention you are with a Covered Bridge Society.

Saturday, September 16, 2006 at the Sinking Creek Covered Bridge in Newport, VA. This festival was held for years, but last year it was canceled because of flooding. It will be held again this year on Rt. 601. Please contact Robin Hypes for further information at: rhypes@pemtel.net.