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Article #72: Covered Bridges - Discovering A North American Living History

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Covered Bridges first appeared in the outside?
U.S. around 1805, but the history of Historians believe the red coating makes
these monuments to another age date back the bridge seem more like a barn to a
thousands of years to China. Covered horse, and as horses tended to be
bridges had also existed in Europe since skittish about crossing above flowing
medieval times and there were once water, the illusion helped farmers and
hundreds of them in Switzerland, Austria travelers navigate the obstacle with
and Germany. little incident from their four-legged
But it's here in the Northeastern U.S., friends.
where wooden covered bridge design and THE CHANGING FACE OF THE COVERED BRIDGE
construction reached its pinnacle in the IN NORTH AMERICA
nineteenth century. A combination of As the twentieth century progressed
pressing need, plentiful old growth bridge construction changed and metal
northern forests, and sheer Yankee manufactured truss bridges became first
ingenuity, advanced the development of choice over wood. The ease of
wooden covered bridges to a rare construction, increased strength, and low
combination of marvelous engineering cost of these metal bridges became too
feats that were also pleasing to the eye. overwhelming to ignore for budget
WHY SO MANY COVERED BRIDGES IN THE conscious communities in the U.S.
NORTHEAST? The "work horse" bridges of the 19th
The northeast is a region of rivers, century gave way to economics, and most
streams and creeks. As the population wooden covered bridges in the U.S.
surged out away from coastal areas into quickly disappeared, except for the 800
the forested interior, villages sprung up left for admirers to view today. Though
near water sources. The water source was many of the remaining covered bridges
used to power mills in these towns, and still carry traffic - even cars - most
villages often developed on both banks of are kept and maintained for tourism, and
a stream or river. Bridges were the as a reminder of our heritage.
obvious answer to connect these divided VIEWING OF COVERED BRIDGES...
communities, and provide access for For sheer volume Pennsylvania and Vermont
townsfolk to things like school, worship, take honors, accounting for well over a
and supplies. third of the remaining bridges.
But why cover them? Self-guided tours are also popular in New
While much speculation has been put forth England for covered bridge vacations,
on this topic; the simple answer is particularly in Vermont and New Hampshire
protection against the weather for the where many of the bridges are close to
bridge. Here in New England, where I other destination and attraction spots.
live, covered wooden bridges last about As a covered bridge enthusiast I can tell
three times as long as those exposed to you half the fun is finding the bridges.
the elements, and reduce bridge The major highways bypassed the roads
maintenance as well. During the 19th and where most bridges are located many years
early 20th century very few bridges built ago, making the remoteness of a covered
were not covered. bridge sometimes an adventure in
INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT COVERED locating. While covered bridges make
BRIDGES... ideal photo opportunities there's much
Most historians agree the first covered more to view than just a pretty picture.
bridge in America was The Permanent Experts suggest appreciating the bridge
Bridge completed in 1805 in Pennsylvania, by first taking in the design and massive
originally designed by Timothy Palmer timbers used in the framework. For
from New England. The longest known authentic bridges these timbers came from
covered bridge is The Hartland in New virgin forests where 100 feet high trees
Brunswick, Canada, which at 1,282 feet were common.
spans the Saint John River. As you view an authentic covered bridge
But perhaps the most famous covered remember it was built for a simple
bridges are in Madison County, Iowa. The functional purpose - getting from one
Bridges of Madison County used to number bank to other. But it was constructed
19, but today only six survive. Robert with the skill and care of craftsmen,
James Waller's novel, and the movie of who've unwittingly left a rich heritage
the same name, popularized these bridges for future generations to enjoy. Treasure
to millions worldwide, and also provided these woodworking masterpieces as you
evidence that covered bridges in North travel rural North America, and
America are by no means limited to the rediscover a symbol of the pioneering
Northeast region. spirit that embraced both U.S. and Canada
A question often asked is why so many of during the nineteenth century.
the bridges are painted red on the






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