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Pat and Dennis Begin
Covered Bridges of Oregon
Rochester covered bridge, Sutherlin, Oregon, built 1933, 24.3 m (80 ft) long
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Pat and Dennis Begin
Covered Bridges of Oregon
Horse Creek covered bridge in Myrtle Creek, Oregon, built 1930, 32 m (105 ft) long
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Pat and Dennis Begin
Covered Bridges of Oregon
Neal Lane Covered Bridge near Myrtle Creek, Oregon, built 1939, 12.8 m (42 ft) long
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Pat and Dennis Begin
Covered Bridges of Oregon
Grave Creek covered bridge near Grants Pass, Oregon, built 1920, 32 m (105 ft) long
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Pat and Dennis Begin
Covered Bridges of Oregon
Pedestrian covered bridge, Canyonville, Oregon
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Pat and Dennis Begin
Covered Bridges of Oregon
Pass Creek covered bridge, Drain, Oregon, built 1925, 18.6 m (61 ft) long
By Dennis Begin, photos Pat & Dennis Begin
On my first visit to the state of Vermont, the Appalachian Mountains, Lake Champlain and the ‘covered bridges’ left a lasting impression. Although the covered bridges were originally built for functional reasons, they have come to be associated with the State of Vermont. The bridges produced a charm that embraces the natural beauty of the state with the romance of a historical period of time. These rustic structures have a restful tranquility about them, bringing a peace of mind. Not many people realize, however, that the State of Oregon is also known for its covered bridges.
Travelling the I-5 from Vancouver, B.C. to Mexico, there is only one covered bridge that can be seen from the freeway. That bridge is Grave Creek on the Sunny Valley Loop Road off Exit 71. It is located 15 miles [21 km] north of Grants Pass. The bridge is 32 m (105 ft) long, single lane and still used by local residents in Josephine County.
At one time, there were 450 covered bridges in Oregon but only 53 remain. Lane County, around Eugene, has the most with 20 covered bridges. From Canyonville to Roseburg in Central Oregon, Douglas County has six covered bridges: Cavitt Creek, Horse Creek, Milo Academy, Neal Lane, Rochester and Pass Creek. The pamphlet, ‘A Guide to Covered Bridges in the Land of Umpqua’, provides a map along with details of each bridge. The majority of the bridges are now tourist attractions and used largely by pedestrians instead of vehicles.
Oregon constructed its covered bridges during the period from 1850 to 1940. As the climate in both Vermont and Oregon is damp for a good part of the year, the life of a covered bridge could be extended to 80 years or three times the life of an exposed bridge. The key was to protect the large trusses or beams from the sun and rain, as it was cheaper to only replace the walls and roof. The first covered bridges were built by a group of local neighbors who needed the bridge for transportation, but the bridges were later purchased by a city or county. All bridges have been renovated over the years with metal used in construction. Every covered bridge has its own history and some are even haunted by ghosts from the past.
The bridge was built from the ground up, with wooden beams or trusses extending the length of the bridge, with the weight resting on cement abutments. A possible center pier was used on longer bridges. Floor beams and deck flooring were added, running laterally or across the bridge. The walls and roof were supported by diagonal trusses and struts. The proper terminology for this type of bridge is ‘timber-truss’, using Douglas Fir, which is well suited for bridge construction. The original roof had cedar shakes but has now been replaced with a light metal such as tin. The sidings are wood, making the bridge look like a wooden garage or barn. The six to eight windows came in all shapes to provide essential light and ventilation. An average bridge varies between 22 to 30 m (75 to 100 ft) in length, 6 to 7.5 m (20 to 25 ft) high and can carry up to 5 tons. The two entrances or portals are either arched, squared, or shaped like the roof. Most bridges are painted red, white or stained a natural brown.
The National Society for the Prevention of Covered Bridges stated that in 1959 there were 1,344 covered bridges in the entire United States, but by 2014 that number has dropped to 660. www.coveredbridgesociety.org. Some of the bridges disappeared due to neglect and age while many were burned or demolished by contractors and replaced with a cement bridge. The National Society has undertaken to preserve all remaining covered bridges and their history in cooperation with state governments and avid supporters. In the past when a covered bridge was scheduled for demolition, the locals have always banded together to save the bridge. If interested, check out the website www.covered-bridges.org, which is a link to the Covered Bridge Society of Oregon. Covered bridges are protected when they are listed with the National Register of Historic Places, as well as given a World Guide Number.
Trivia
- Vermont may be known for its covered bridges, but Pennsylvania has the largest number with 213.
- Canada has 220 covered bridges, primarily in Quebec and New Brunswick.
- When viewing the movie ‘Bridges of Madison County’ (1995), with Clint Eastwood and Meryl Streep, the story takes place in Iowa and not in Vermont or Oregon.
- For the record, the longest covered bridge in the world is the Hartland Bridge. It measures 391 m (1,282 ft) over the Saint John River in Hartland, New Brunswick.
- Covered bridges may be bypassed by modern freeways but they still can be found on winding secondary roads in rural areas. The legacy of covered bridges is that they have not been forgotten by history and will exist well into the future.