by Sharon Ruth Hill

Created on: July 25, 2009

A charming view so complementary to the rich, fertile landscape yet the scene is further enhanced with the broadened experience of country simplicity and steep rustic flavor. The preceding sentence is just one more feeble attempt to describe the indescribable natural beauty and sublime character of the covered bridges of Kentucky. Oh, how these historic bridges seem to cradle our Mother Earth with a certain tenderness and depth of feeling as they appear to be both a constant nurturer and eternal protector. A remarkable storied legacy accompanies each remaining covered bridge, as current generations seek to preserve these invaluable state landmarks..

Covered bridges first appeared in Kentucky around the late eighteenth century and were intended to shield the main wood timbers from the decaying influence of the natural elements. Over the next two hundred years the bluegrass commonwealth boasted of approximately seven hundred wooden structures with around fifty surviving to the mid twentieth century. Now roughly thirteen covered bridges remain standing in Kentucky, but they are a clear and tangible testimony to the spirit of community that we long for today.

Burr truss is one particular architectural style for covered bridge construction whereby the roof design includes an arch and the interior is reinforced with an intricate wood truss that allows the bridge to remain rigid and bear unevenly distributed weight. The Beech Fork Bridge in Washington County, Kentucky is a keen example of this type of bridge that was modified to include two spans. While no longer in use due to decay and loss of structural soundness, it is still the longest covered bridge in Kentucky at 102 feet long.

In Bourbon County, Kentucky the Colville Bridge has crossed Hinkston Creek since 1877. Well constructed in the architectural style of double post and brace with required repairs in 1913, 1937, 1966, with a full restoration in 2001. A little white house up on the hill adjacent to this bridge was actually the original toll house with tolls excluded on Sunday, or when traveling to back and forth to school or a funeral.

A truss bridge seems somewhat skeletal in nature, or as triangles connected by single wood timber spans. The design is efficient and you can easily count where the beam chords, vertical, and diagonals the connection points. The design seems ghostly and impersonal and lacks any semblance of character or feeling, however, it is a remarkably strong structure that resonates functionality. In example, the Switzer Bridge in Eastern Franklin County, Kentucky built in 1855 and rebuilt in 1997 due to being knocked from the foundation because of the high waters of the North Elkhorn Creek.

Economy of design includes a private covered bridge in Mason County, Kentucky built in 1864 at a scant 23 feet in length. The Valley Pike Bridge is in the quintessential kingpost truss architectural style with a king post, a.k.a. crown post, emanating vertically from the crossbeam to the connecting apex of a triangular truss. This ornate, complex truss system lends credence to a sense of strength and safety for anyone charged with using this bridge to cross the relatively short distance over the creek.

More than several of the still standing Kentucky covered bridges are no longer in use for safety reasons and also in a final effort to preserve the remaining dignity of the structures. This is a well deserved rest since they have served so faithfully and so well over more than one hundred years. I hope to be able to say the same for myself, imagining that I may someday acquire status as an centenarian.

Sources:

Kentucky Atlas & Gazetteer

Vox-Girl Interrupted Blog

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