Girard Township, Erie County Pa., December 18. 2008 - State police said Joshua M. Bell and Jeffrey A. Gleason doused the Gudgeonville Covered Bridge with gasoline and then watched as the historic structure went up in flames.
      For story, photo, and video, go to:
http://www.goerie.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081218/NEWS02/812189989

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Girard Township, Erie County, Pa., December 19. 2008 - State police are continuing to gather the evidence needed to charge Jeffrey A. Gleason and Joshua M. Bell in a crime spree that spanned northern Crawford County and western Erie County.
      For the story go to: http://www.goerie.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081219/NEWS02/312199926/-1/NEWS02

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Washington, NH, December 22, 2008 - New Hampshire is getting $2.3 million from the federal government to repair and renovate the Bath Village Covered Bridge. The project involves a big makeover . . .
      For the story go to: http://www.boston.com/news/local/new_hampshire/articles/2008/12/22/23_million_to_renovate_bath_nh_covered_bridge/

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December 31, 2008 - The Harrisburg (or Pigeon,) Covered Bridge is the only remaining old covered bridge in Sevier County, and one of only six left in Tennessee. . .
      For photo and story go to: http://travelswithstephen.blogspot.com/2008/12/harrisburg-covered-bridge-sevier-county.html

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New Brunswick, December 31, 2008 - Old Man Winter has unleashed his icy grip on Carleton County. Ice in the St. John River is beginning to build up beneath the Hartland Covered Bridge . . .
      For photo and story go to: http://bugleobserver.canadaeast.com/news/article/527163

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January 1, 2009 - Among the highlights of our Stowe stay, we went on a candlelit ghost walking tour by Stowe Lantern Tours to hear about local ghosts Emily and Boots Berry. . .
      For the story go to: http://frog-mom.blogspot.com/2009/01/stowe-vermont-quaint-new-england-ghosts.html

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January 1, 2009 - Near Watkinsville in Oconee County, Georgia, Elder Mill Covered Bridge,built in 1897 by Nathaniel Richardson, this 99-foot-long bridge originally carried the Watkinsville-Athens Road over Calls Creek. . .
      For photo and story go to: http://www.hmdb.org/marker.asp?marker=14945

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Moscow, IN, December 24, 2008 - An F3 tornado in early June caused serious damage in Shelby, Rush and Decatur Counties. The town of Moscow, in Rush County, lost its beloved Covered Bridge.
     The bridge won't be gone forever, as neighboring communities come together for a New Year's Eve party and a fund raiser to gather cash to replace the bridge.
     Beginning at 5 p.m. on Dec. 31, local banquet hall "A2Z Occasions" will be hosting the shindig, and tickets are available at Karma in Greensburg, the local Fairfield Inn or on the Web at http://www.650north.com.
     The price for a single, all-inclusive ticket is $49, which includes a dinner, beer, party favors, entertainment and a champagne toast at midnight. Tickets without the dinner are $39, and $29 for minors who won't be eating dinner but will have soft drinks and snacks. Ticket packages that include a hotel room, a spot at the party and transportation are also available.
     Five dollars from every ticket sold will be donated to the Moscow Bridge project.
     Dinner will start at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 31 at the banquet hall.      The state will not be offering recovery money for the project. The Governor has offered all he can offer, but no money
The framing of the bridge.
     See: http://www.greensburgdailynews.com/local/local_story_359092758.html http://www.greensburgdailynews.com/local/local_story_359092758.html

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Erie, Pa, December 20, 2008 - Jeffrey Gleason, 23, of Conneautville, the second suspect in the Gudgeonville Covered Bridge arson, was taken before Springfield Township District Judge Chris MacKendrick. Bail was set at 23, of Conneautville, was set at $500,000.
     Gleason was returned to the Crawford County Correctional Facility where he had been incarcerated there on $250,000 bond on charges unrelated to the bridge fire.
     Joshua M. Bell, 21, of Albion, the other suspect in the arson, is in the Erie County Prison on $500,000 bond on charges of arson and related crimes associated with burning the Gudgeonville Bridge [PA-25-03] on November 8.
     See: http://www.goerie.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081220/NEWS02/312209911

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Washington, December 22, 2008 - New Hampshire's Bath Village covered bridge is getting $2.3 million from the federal government for renovation.
     The renovation will replace the metal roof and all deteriorated members. In addition a A laminated timber arch will be installed to increase load capacity. A fire protection system will be installed.
     See: http://www.examiner.com/a-1758535~_2_3_million_to_renovate_Bath__NH_covered_bridge.html

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Girard Township, Erie County, December 25. 2008 - Timbers from the burned-out Gudgeonville bridge will be salvaged and stored until township supervisors decide what to do with them.
     Girard Township supervisors voted Tuesday to seek new proposals from companies bidding to remove the remains of the covered bridge. Bids already received vary in price and aren't specific enough on how the bridge would be removed and what would be done with charred timbers, Township Supervisor Bill Felege said.
     Contractors will be required to salvage timbers from the bridge deck and take them to the township building.
     The Gudgeonville bridge was arsoned November 8. On December 17, Joshua M. Bell, 21, of Albion, and Jeffrey A. Gleason, 23, of Conneautville, were charged by the State police with setting the fire. Bell is in Erie County Prison on charges related to the arson. Gleason is in the Crawford County Correctional Facility on burglary and other charges unrelated to the burning of the bridge.
     Girard Township supervisors will accept bids to demolish bridge remains until 4 p.m. on Jan. 5.
     See: http://www.goerie.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081225/NEWS02/312259869
[Thanks Tom Keating - Ed.]

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West Montrose, Ont., December 15, 2008 - Dutch scientists placed violins by Cremonese masters such as Antonio Stradivari through CT scanners this year and found their rich sound might be explained by the density of the wood.
     Tony Dowling could have saved them a lot of trouble by taking them on a stroll through this picturesque village, home to Ontario's only surviving covered bridge.
     For nearly 130 years, it's been a landmark and important passageway, linking one side of the Waterloo Region community to the other.
     But in recent times, residents discovered their bridge also has musicality. It became apparent about 20 years ago, a few nights before Christmas, when Dowling, new to the village, crossed the bridge with his wife and began singing "Silent Night."
     For the story go to http://www.thestar.com/News/Ontario/article/553729

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Greenville, Del., December 17, 2008 - The Wooddale Covered Bridge in Greenville has reopened after work to repair flood damage caused by 2003's Tropical Storm Henri, the DelDOT said.
     Work on the $3.4 million project began Sept. 4, 2007.
     See: http://www.delawareonline.com/article/20081217/NEWS/81217019
[Thank you Tom Keating - Ed.]

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Greenville, Del, December 17, 2008 - The Delaware Department of Transportation has finished work on the      Wooddale Covered Bridge and Rolling Mill Road reopened on Dec. 15.
     The bridge, which spans the Red Clay Creek on Rolling Mill Road, was washed off its abutments by Tropical Storm Henri in 2003 and deposited downstream.
     Reconstruction of the bridge began on Sept. 4, 2007, by Middletown contractor Mumford & Miller Concrete, Inc., which finished the project for $3.374 million.
     The bridge was rebuilt using Bongossi woo, a super-strong type of African timber that was also used to make repairs on Ashland Covered Bridge.
     See: http://www.communitypub.com/news/x415882864/Wooddale-Covered-Bridge-reconstruction-complete
Brandywine East Community News - Hockessin,DE,USA

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December 16, 2008 - It may appear to be a relic with its timber framing, shingled roof, and windows fixed between wood side panels, but do not allow yourself to be deceived by its historic appearance. The soon-to-be completed Wooddale Covered Bridge on Foxhill Lane at Rolling Mill Road is unquestionably new and improved.
     Destroyed in 2003 due to flooding from Tropical Storm Henri, construction on the new Wooddale Bridge combines historic aesthetics with modern-day engineering.      "We wanted to go with something authentic," said Mike Hahn, from Delaware Historic Preservation Society.
     The original Wooddale Covered Bridge was constructed over Red Clay Creek in 1850. Noted as an essential transportation link for Wooddale residents, the bridge also provided access to the nearby Delaware Iron Works. The bridge was an indispensable creek crossing for the mill, which dates as far back as 1814. The bridge is part of the Wooddale Historical District, and is one of only two covered bridges in Delaware.
      . . . Significant planning went into the construction of the new covered bridge, ensuring its long-term stability. One major aspect of the construction involved raising the bridge's elevation five feet higher than the original . . . In addition to the higher elevation, the new bridge has additional guards against damage due to flooding . . . "The bridge that is now in place is nearly the same bridge, but it is proportionally bigger to allow for the required vertical clearance of today's trucks," Hastings noted. "It is structurally designed to meet today's highway loads . . . All of the groups involved unanimously wanted to put back a single lane covered bridge that was a replica of the previous bridge . . .
For the story, see: http://www.delawareonline.com/article/20081216/COMMUNITIES1101/81216062/-1/PAGECURL01
The News Journal - Wilmington,DE,USA

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Hardwick, Mass., December 9, 2008 - Voters at a special town meeting held Monday, December 8, approved obtaining temporary easements to clear the way for the state to put the $3.3 million Gilbertville Covered Bridge restoration project out to bid later this month. Work on the bridge is to begin this spring.
     Similar easements were recently approved in neighboring Ware, New Hampshire. The 137-foot Gilbertville bridge was built in 1886 to cross the Ware River using a Town truss. The old span has been closed since 2002 when the State Highway Department determined its capacity to be inadequate to support traffic. It was last reconstructed in 1986 at a cost of $230,000.

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Gilbertville Bridge

Hardwick, Mass., December 10, 2008 - Since 1886, the quickest route between Hardwick, Massachusetts and Ware, New Hampshire was by way of the Gilbertville Covered Bridge. The bridge is owned jointly by the towns.
     An easement approved at the Hardwick Town Meeting Monday last allows machinery and other equipment to be placed on private property during the repairs, the last hurdle in a long approval process. Voters in Ware passed a similar easement in November. The $3.3 million renovation can begin. Federal funds will cover 80 percent of the cost, with the state providing the balance. Bids for the work will be sought by years end.
     One of only four wooden covered bridges in the state, the bridge was closed in 2002 when the State Highway Department determined its capacity to be inadequate to support traffic.
     The renovation will include steel beams under the floor system, curbing in the roadway to protect the trusses and allow for pedestrians on each side. The bridge will treated with fire suppression chemicals and a fire detection system.
     The 137-foot Gilbertville bridge was built in 1886 to cross the Ware River using a Town truss.

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Stone Ridge, New Brunswick, November 21, 2008 – The Province of New Brunswick has decided not to replace the historic Stone Ridge Bridge which was destroyed by a blaze the local fire officials are calling suspicious.
      Local residents are deeply concerned about the loss of the bridge as winter weather approaches. It provided an option for motorists wishing to avoid the Morehouse Corner Hill, a treacherous slope that's difficult to navigate in wet weather. In the past, the hill has been impassible to school buses as well as other traffic.
      Transportation Minister Denis Landry said the cost of erecting a single-lane bridge would be at least $275,000. The transportation Department had contacted emergency services, police and school officials before making the decision. "All of the service providers indicated to us that the bridge wouldn't affect the service given to the public," the minister said.
      Stone Ridge residents plan to fight the decision.
      The Keswick Valley volunteer fire department responded to the fire at about 10 p.m. Friday, October 10. The bridge was fully engulfed by flames at that time and collapsed just as fire crews arrived at the scene.
      The 126-foot bridge was built in 1914 to cross the Keswick River using a Howe truss.
      From a count of 340 covered bridges in New Brunswick 60 years ago, 63 remain, partly due to fire and vandalism.
      [This article gleaned from CanadaEast News Service and others. Our thanks to Tom Keating - Ed.]

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TOLLESBORO, KY, November 22, 2008 - A steel truss is to be used to stabilize troubled Cabin Creek Covered Bridge while environmental studies and construction plans are completed and funds are found.
      The stabilization work should be completed by February.
      A inspection following damage by spring storms discovered need for serious repairs. Stabilization was found to be essential else the span would be lost to the next storm.
      Funds have been dedicated to the bridge project but the question is how much more will be needed. About $500,000 in National Historic Covered Bridge Preservation Program grant money has been set aside.
      While the funds on hand are adequate for the stabilization work, as much as $1 million to $1.5 million are typical costs for preservation. The balance will likely be raised through grants or other sources, authorities said.
      Also known as the Mackey/Huges/Jones Farm Bridge, the 114-foot Cabin Creek Bridge was built in 1867 to cross Cabin Creek using a multiple king post truss with arch. In addition to the usual MKing & arch truss, each panel has a steel rod crossing the wood brace similar to the Child Truss.
      The bridge was closed to vehicles in 1983, and to pedestrian traffic in July, 2008.
      [Gleaned from fortmilltimes.com and other sources - Ed.]

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Centerville, MI, November 15, 2008 – The $750,000 overhaul of the Langley covered bridge is expected to be complete by month's end, hopefully by Thanksgiving. The date of a re-dedication ceremony will be announced.
      Progress on the work had been slowed by weather and the acquisition of materials. Owned by St. Joseph County, $500,000 of the cost of the project was provided by the State of Michigan Enhancement grant.
      The bridge is being strengthened with additional support and metal siding designed to give the bridge its original appearance.
      The 282-foot Langley Bridge was built in 1887 using a Howe truss to cross the St. Joseph River in three spans. The last restoration of the current magnitude was done in 1974. On an average day 1,500 vehicles pass over the bridge, with a weight limit of 3 tons.
[Gleaned from Sturgis Journal, Sturgis MI - Ed.]

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Clarksville, TN, November 14, 2008 – The Port Royal Covered bridge has been removed from the Red River and sent on to a new career as a farm building.
      The 200-foot bridge was first built in 1903 in two spans by J.C. McMillan to cross the Red River using the Howe Truss. A set of arches was added when the bridge collapsed during construction.
      The bridge was lost during a storm in the 1970s and rebuilt in 1977. The bridge failed again in the 1990s due to high water.
      The bridge was notable for its high piers, which remain as monuments to the bridge's passing.
[Sources: clarksvilleonline.com; World Guide to Covered Bridges, by NSPCB; and Covered Bridges of the South, by R.S. Allen – Ed]

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ESOPUS, NY - The 138-foot, single-span structure crosses the Wallkill River. It was built in 1844 and is the second-oldest covered bridge in New York State.
      Named for French Huguenot immigrant James Perrine, who owned a tavern near the bridge site, it served to connect the towns of Esopus and Rosendale. Constructed by Benjamin Wood at a cost of $2,200, the bridge features a Burr Arch Truss design, a combination of two large hemlock arches and multiple king posts. It is the last remaining Burr Arch Truss bridge in the state. Perrine's Bridge was closed to vehicles in 1933, declared a New York State Historic Site in 1966 and listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.
[Condensed from a Poughkeepsie Journal article - Ed.]

For the story, go to:
http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/article/20081112/NEWS01/811120319/1006/news01

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Charlotte, VT, November 12, 2008 -- Two covered bridges spanning Lewis Creek in Charlotte are covered by much more than trusses, timbers and sturdy steel roofs.
      More than 20 people came to Monday's Select board hearing to let the board know that the structures also are covered by the watchful eyes and concerns of nearby residents.
      The purpose of the hearing was a proposal to pave 20 feet at each end of the Seguin Bridge (VT-04-02) on Roscoe Road and the Quinlan Bridge (VT-04-03) on Monkton Road near Lewis Creek Road. The question was, because those roads were given scenic road designation 1989, how the paving would impinge on the scenic road criteria.
      The reason given for paving is to prevent vehicles from carrying mud and water into the bridge, which has been causing degradation of the bridge flooring.
      All residents who spoke at the hearing said they were opposed to the paving. The formation of a Friends of Covered Bridges group is contemplated to help the Select board create a long-term management plan.
[Condensed from a Burlington Free Press article – Ed.]

For the story, go to:
http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/article/20081112/NEWS02/811120314/-1/NEWS0

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Bucks County, PA, November 10, 2008 - The County will spend $195,000 on the only covered bridge in Bucks County to cross the Delaware Canal.
      Located on Uhlerstown Road in Tinicum, just west of Route 32, it is one of 12 historic covered bridges in the county. The 110-foot two-span Uhlerstown bridge was built in 1832 using a Town Truss.
      The abutments, siding, and approaches will be repaired. It is hoped the bridge will be open to traffic next month.
      For the full story, go to:

http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/111-11102008-1618906.html

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Washington County, PA - Seven miles from William McGuffey's birthplace, near West Finley Pennsylvania, one such bridge spanned Wheeling Creek. It was built in 1832 by Daniel and Joshua Ackley, from whose land the great oak timbers came. 105 years later, in the late fall of 1937, it was a rotting, deteriorating vestige of the past, and was scheduled to be torn down. Ackley's granddaughter, Mrs. Harleigh Carroll, acquired the bridge and gave it to Mr. Ford. By summer of 1938, it proudly stood over a man-made water way inside of Greenfield Village.
      For great photos and the remarkable story of the Ackly Bridge, go to:

http://gfv1929.blogspot.com/2008/11/ackley-covered-bridge.html

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Port Royal Tennessee, Oct. 27, 2008 - The covered bridge at Port Royal Tennessee is being dismantled and taken down. It's not The bridge, it's a steel and wood 3/4 scale model that was built in 1975 to replace the one that was destroyed by flooding in the early 1900's.
      There are a lot of feelings and memories connected with even the repro of the bridge. It is an icon for a lot of people in Port Royal and Clarksville of a place that means very much to them.
      For the story and photos of the dismantling process go to: http://christianhomekeeper.com/2008/10/27/saying-goodbye-to-an-icon/

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Bridge Wright Arnold Graton and friends are restoring the 112-foot Johnson Creek bridge. Built in 1874, it spans Johnson Creek near North Blue Licks using a variation of the Howe truss. For story, photos and video, go to: http://www.maysville-online.com/articles/2008/10/17/local_news/819bridge.txt

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Fallsbury Township - Many tie-beams and diagonal braces were torn out by an oversized vehicle, closing through traffic on Frampton Road. The 124-foot bridge was built in 1881 using a multiple king post truss to cross the Wakatomika Creek. For story and photo go to: http://www.newarkadvocate.com/article/20081023/NEWS01/810230318/1002

[Thanks to Tom Keating for finding this story - Ed.]

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Williamsville, Vermont - Put off for years, the renovation the old bridge can go forward despite the ups and downs and ins and outs that have long held up the work. Construction is slated to begin in the spring or summer cf 2009. The 120-foot bridge spans Rock River using a Town truss. For the story, go to: http://www.reformer.com/ci_10791953

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Stone Ridge, NB, October 12, 2008 - The historic Stone Ridge bridge was destroyed by a blaze the local fire officials are calling suspicious.

The Keswick Valley volunteer fire department responded to the fire at about 10 p.m. Friday. The bridge was fully engulfed by flames at that time and collapsed just as fire crews arrived at the scene.

The 126-foot bridge was built in 1914 to cross the Keswick River using a Howe truss.

From a count of 340 covered bridges in New Brunswick 60 years ago, 63 remain, partly due to fire and vandalism.

For the full story, go to: The Globe and Mail

[Thanks to Tom Keating, Tom Walczak, and David Guay for alerting us to this article - ED.]

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Kent, Connecticut - See Bull's Bridge and read about General George Washington's horse.

Bull's Bridge was built on the site of a bridge built in the 1700's. The new 109-foot bridge was built in 1842 to cross the Housatonic River using a town truss, a queen post truss added.

Go to: http://iraspeak.wordpress.com/2008/10/09/all-about-covered-bridges/

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October 8, 2008, Centerville, MI - The two-month Langley Covered Bridge restoration project is at its halfway point and the St. Joseph County icon is in its stripped-down state. Completion date is November 5. The 282-foot Langley covered bridge was built in 1887 in three spans using the Howe truss to cross the St. Joseph River.

For the story and a photo go to: http://www.sturgisjournal.com/homepage/x1985674318

[Our thanks to Tom Keating for finding this article for us - Ed.]

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September 29, 2008, Barlow, OH - The Mill Branch Covered Bridge at the Barlow Fairgrounds is one of about 140 covered bridges left in Ohio.
      Volunteers and donors restored the bridge in 2007 after Hurricane Ivan took a toll on it in 2004.
      Sunday Miriam Wood, an officer of the Ohio Historic Bridge Association spoke at a dedication ceremony. She said the year the bridge was built is still a mystery.

For a video of the ceremony, go to: http://www.wtap.com/news/headlines/29871634.html

[Footnote: According to the World Guide to Covered Bridges, a National Society for the Preservation of Covered Bridges publication, the 59-foot Mill Branch Bridge was built c1885 using a multiple king post truss to cross the Mill Branch. The bridge was moved to the Brook fairgrounds in 1980.]

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September 29, 2008, TOLLESBORO, KY - Residents of northeastern Kentucky are trying to rescue an aging covered bridge they say is at risk of failing.
      The county's only covered bridge had been stabilized by steel braces by the Kentucky Transportation Department until the restoration could be completed. But those braces were damaged by heavy rains in early spring.

For the story, go to: http://www.kentucky.com/news/state/story/539498.html

[The 114-foot Cabin Creek Bridge was built in 1867 using a Multiple king post truss with arch to cross Cabin Creek.

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For a story about and photos of Washington State's Grays River Covered Bridge, go to: http://blog.kitchenmage.com/2008/10/dinner-on-the-c.html

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:
The Grays River Covered Bridge is a one-lane wooden covered bridge over the Grays River in western Wahkiakum County, Washington. The bridge is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is the only covered bridge still in use by the public in Washington. Built in 1905 and covered three years later, it received a major restoration in the late 1980s. The Howe truss timber bridge spans over 150 feet, using cedar shingles for the exterior. The roof of the covered bridge was originally built of tin to preserve the bridge from the ravages of the area rains.
      Though county property, a local non-profit organization organizes financial support for its upkeep. A biennial festival is held at the bridge site.

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October 2, 2008 - For photos of Madison County's restored Cedar Bridge, go to http://cindydianne.blogspot.com/2008/10/kb-wasnt-so-sure-that-taking-me-to-see.html

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For a story and photo of the Locust Creek Covered Bridge at Meadville, MO, go to: http://www.communitycorrespondent.com/ntv/story.php?id=33720

"This is Locust Creek Covered Bridge near Macon, Missouri. It is one of four surviving covered bridges in Missouri at 151 feet long. It was built in 1868. As a boy, General John J. Pershing swam and fished in the creek near the bridge. In 1991, the bridge was raised six feet to protect the floor from floods. It had recently flooded in that area. You can see the mark on the bridge."

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"There is an argument as to how many covered bridges exist in Georgia. The Georgia DOT has 16 on their list, the purists argue that the number should be 13 or 14 due to stylistic differences, or more prominently upkeep has changed the very nature of the structure. But anyway you slice it, a covered bridge spanning a piece of water in the Georgia Countryside is a pretty sight. There is one not to far from Athens, in the town of Watkinsville where you get the treat of still being able to drive across in your car. This is the Elder's Mill Covered Bridge."

For the story and photos, go to: http://urbanbaboon.blogspot.com/2008/10/elders-mill-covered-bridge.html

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Sturgis MI, September 18, 2008 - Langley Covered Bridge in Centreville is undergoing restoration. The 282-foot bridge was built in three spans in 1887 to cross the St. Joseph River using a Howe truss. Go to:
http://www.sturgisjournal.com/news/x1366185166/The-road-to-repair

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9/17/08 - Hi Folks, I thought you might like to see this article and the video linked to it with the good news of the rebuilding of the West Paden Bridge, PA-19-12, in Columbia County, PA. The old bridge was destroyed by floodwaters on June 28, 2006. Please share this news with others via your websites and newsletters.
Thank you, Tom Walczak, President TBCBSP, Inc.

Covered Bridge Under Construction:
The historic bridge was destroyed during the flood of 2006, and is now being rebuilt.
http://www.wnep.com/global/story.asp?s=9023182

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Sept. 14, 2008, Greene County, Pa. - The White Covered Bridge renovation is underway.
      The work is planned to be complete for the for Washington and Greene counties' 38th Annual Covered Bridge Festival beginning Saturday and continues through Sept. 21. Along with the White Bridge, nine others will be showcased. At each bridge site, entertainment, demonstrations, historic exhibits, food and other activities will be featured.
     The 70-foot White bridge was built in 1919 to cross Whitely Creek using a queen post truss.
      Read about it at the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review - Pittsburgh,PA,USA website. Also featured in the article is some interesting covered bridge trivia.
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/cityregion/s_587541.html

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Sept. 12, 2008, Pepperell, MA - The old bridge is gone, just the abutments and piers gone. The plan is to replace it with a new covered bridge to be built in upstate New York and reassembled here.
      Named the Chester H. Waterous, the 108 foot span was built to cross the Nashua River in 1963 using a variation of the Pratt Truss. This span replaced an earlier one. See:
http://www.nashobapublishing.com/ci_10445911

See also:
http://www.pepperellinfo.net/coveredbridge
[Our thanks to Tom Keating for alerting us to this article - Ed.]

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9/5/2008 - Mansfield Restoration, LLC of Mansfield Village, Park County, Indiana, announces its Covered Bridge Festival - Oct. 10 to Oct. 19: Mansfield Covered Bridge Festival; antiques, crafts, flea markets, food; 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily; 1-888-876-8580, http://www.Mansfieldcoveredbridges.com

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9/5/2008 - Park County Covered Bridge Festival to be held Oct. 10 to Oct. 19 throughout Parke County; arts and crafts, country food, decorated bridges; hours vary; 765-569-5226, http://www.coveredbridges.com

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9/5/2008 - View photos by Glenn Gordo of California's Wawona Covered Bridge's 1957 Restoration: http://www.yosemite.ca.us/pioneer-yosemite-history-center/1957-bridge-restoration/

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9/5/2008 - Visit Maryland's Utica Mills covered bridge [WGN 20-1-01] through Lew's Pics. The 100-foot bridge was built circa 1850 using the Burr Truss to span Fishing Creek. http://lewsotherpics.blogspot.com/2008/08/bridges-between-utica-mills-covered.html For an interior view of the Bunker Hill covered bridge [WGN 33-18-01] near East Claremont, North Carolina, go to: It uses the rarely found Haupt Truss. The 85-foot span, built in 1894, crosses Lyle Creek. Go to: http://piedmontperspective.wordpress.com/2008/09/03/tunnel-vision/

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Ashtabula County, OH, August 21, 2008 - Ashtabula County's newest covered bridge, and the nation's longest, will be dedicated 2:30 p.m. August 26.
      The bridge will be officially named at the ceremony. World Guide number 35-04-64 has already been assigned. The new bridge is 613 feet long and cost $8 million.
      The bridge was designed by John Smolen, who was county engineer when the idea of bridging the Ashtabula River Gulf with a wooden structure was first conceived nearly a decade ago.
General contractor for the bridge is Union Industrial Contractors (UIC), which started work on it two years ago.
      The usual ribbon cutting ceremony will be replaced by a log sawing, wherein officials will take turns with an old fashion cross-cut saw. The bridge will then be opened to pedestrian traffic, but closed to vehicular traffic pending road paving and the installation of guard rails.
[This item based on a Star Beacon; Ashtabula report forwarded by Tom Keating - Ed.]

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Ware, Ma., August 18, 2008 - Restoration work is planned for the spring of 2009 on the Gilbertville Bridge connecting Ware and Hardwick.
      The project's management and financing are controlled by the state Highway Department and the selectmen of Ware and Hardwick.
      The Gilbertville Bridge, also known as the Ware-Hardwick Covered Bridge, was built in 1886 to cross the Ware River using a Town truss. The 137-foot span was renovated in 1986 and then closed in 2002 for traffic safety.
      The project design plans are complete and the work will go out for bid in February, 2009. The cost is estimated to be $3.3 Million. Included in the cost are traffic signals and an electronic fire alarm system. The one-lane bridge will accommodate motor vehicles. Work is slated to be complete in September, 2009.
[Based on Springfield, MA Republican report forwarded by Tom Keating - Ed.]

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Brownstown, IN, August 21, 2008 - Jackson County is giving away the remains of the Bell's Ford covered bridge that collapsed into the East Fork White River to become a centerpiece in the Benjamin Harrison State Park in Indianapolis.
      Located East of Cortland, Ind., the bridge's west span collapsed in 1999, the east span fell in 2006. The 330-foot, two-span bridge was built in 1869 using the Post Truss, half wood, half iron.
      The reconstructed bridge will cross Fall Creek and connect an Indy Greenways trail from a city park to the state park. Signs noting the bridge's Jackson County history will be posted at both ends of the bridge, which will be used only by pedestrians and bicyclists.
      The bridge will be restored during a two-year, $2 million effort. A coalition of preservationist groups is applying for a federal grant to help pay for the project.
[This item based on Chicagotribune.com report forwarded by Tom Keating - Ed.]

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Beaverkill Bridge Photo by Trish Kane, Fall 2007

ALBANY, NY, August 20, 2008 - Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) Commissioner Carol Ash and Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Pete Grannis announced today that the Beaverkill Covered Bridge has been listed on the New York State and National Registers of Historic Places.
      "The Beaverkill Covered Bridge forms a centerpiece and focal point of the Catskill landscape and its listing on both the State and National Historic Registers will help provide additional recognition to this region as an historic, environmental and recreational resource," Commissioner Ash said. "The bridge continues to provide DEC's Beaverkill campground with a connection across this important river, and also symbolically connects both residents and visitors with the past."
      The Beaverkill Covered Bridge was built in 1865 by John Davidson, a Scottish immigrant who was also involved in farming and lumbering, and it remains an important community connector. The bridge is a distinctive example of a Town lattice truss, a type of bridge construction favored for its considerable strength and ease of construction. The bridge was recommended for nomination by the New York State Board for Historic Preservation and placed on the New York State Register of Historic Places by Commissioner and State Historic Preservation Officer Carol Ash. It was subsequently nominated to and listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

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WOODSVILLE, NH, August 9, 2008 - The Haverhill-Bath covered bridge near Woodville will be re-dedicated Saturday, August 23, at 11 a.m. and officially opened to pedestrian traffic.
      The ceremonies, held by the bridge committee, will be followed with a parade and two-band concerts. Covered bridge artifacts will be offered for sale.
      The bridge is located one-quarter mile north of US Route 302 in Woodsville Village on NH Route 135. The nation's oldest wooden bridge, it was built in 1829 for $2,400, the cost divided between the towns of Haverhill and Bath.
      Built in two spans to cross the Ammonoosuc River, the bridge is 256 feet long using the Town lattice truss, the only bridge to be built on this site. The construction was supervised by Moses Abbott and Leonard Walker.
      In 1973, the bridge was repaired at a cost of $38,710. In 1981 damage to the bridge caused by ice was repaired by the state at a cost of $8,000. In 1983, the bridge was almost lost to arson and it was closed.
      Stabilization of the structure was performed in the year 2000. The bridge was rehabilitated at a cost of $1.4 million, the funds coming from grants, donations, and taxes.
      The bridge is on the National Register of Historic Places.
[Our thanks to VCBS Life Member Ann Ovitt for sharing this information with us - Ed.]

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OSSIPEE, N.H., July 3, 2008 With the main supporting timbers rotted, the 72-ton bridge was jacked off its abutments, supported on steel I-beams and rolled off the river for restoration.
      The town has raised $1 million for work which is expected to take two years to complete. The 132-foot bridge was built circa 1870 by Jacob Berry using the Paddleford Truss with arch to cross the Bearcamp River.
      The fourth bridge to be built on this site, it was restored in 1982-83 by Milton Graton and Sons and closed to traffic in 1989.

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MOSCOW, IN, August 8, 2008 - Rush County's Moscow Village lost its covered bridge to a tornado last June. While much of the village itself was damaged as well, it is planned that the bridge will be rebuilt by next summer.
      The funds for the rebuild will come from a coalition of businesses, organizations, and individuals which will raise private money and donations of labor, materials and equipment. The group was organized by the office of Governor Mitch Daniels. The use of tax money is not realistic, the governor said, because of the bridge's location in a rural area and the low usage. Up to $400,000 might be needed.
      The $400,000 will be raised privately by CSO Architects of Indianapolis, and by area residents. A Rush County committee will be created and a fund-raising account has been established in the name of the Moscow Covered Bridge Reconstruction Fund at Main Source Bank in Rushville.
      Dan Collom, owner of Square and Level Construction in Parke County who rebuilt the Bridgeton Covered Bridge in Parke County, will re-build Moscow Bridge. Much of the wood salvaged from the original bridge will be reused.
      Writes Tom Walczak, president of the Theodore Burr Covered Bridge Society of PA, "The bridge was a 2-span, 334 ft. Burr truss span across the Big Flat Rock River. It was built in 1886 by Emmet L. Kennedy and featured the fancy scroll-work on the portals, a characteristic of the Kennedy bridge builders. The large bridge was painted white and was last re-habbed in 2002. It was reported in one article as being the longest covered bridge in Indiana still open to traffic."

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Arnold Graton and Don Walker, master Bridge wrights, are building a new covered bridge in Macon, NC, described as a "signature entrance to the Bascom." An "ox pull" is in the offing.

For the story, go to: http://www.maconnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2327&Itemid=34

[Our thanks to Tom Keating for alerting us to the article - Ed.]

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Greetings to Our Bridging Friends: Many of you are interested in knowing when ribbon cuttings are taking place. We just received word this afternoon that, even though the official dedication ceremony for Mood's Covered Bridge in Perkasie, East Rockhill Township, Bucks County, PA, is scheduled for April 19, the Official opening of the bridge will take place this Friday, February 15, at 2:00 p.m with a ribbon cutting ceremony. County and Township officials, Congressman Pat Murphy, Senator Paul Clymer, Representatives of PennDOT and Lycoming Construction, & representatives of the Bucks County Covered Bridge Society.
Happy Bridging
Ben and June Evans

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Weathersfield, Vt. January 26, 2008 - Closed for renovation since the summer of 2007, the Upper Falls covered bridge will be opened to traffic This weekend.
      The 127-foot Town Lattice truss bridge received new chords, floor system, roof, and siding at a cost of $1.2 million. Work on the abutments is scheduled for this coming spring. The bridge currently serves five families
      Also known as Downers Bridge, it was built in 1840 to cross the Black River. Other covered bridges built in this era are the Depot Bridge in Pittsford (1840), the Sanderson Bridge in Brandon (c1838), The Great Eddy Bridge in Waitsfield (1833), and the Taftsville Bridge in Taftsville/Woodstock (1836). All of these bridges are on the National Register of Historic Sites, and are an active part of Vermont's highway system.