Another Covered Bridge

[1940plymouth]

This afternoon Cooper and I went for a 25 mile drive one way in the "Wayback Machine" to get these photos of a covered bridge in Livingston Manor, NY. A nice ride on back roads all the way there and back.

[DLK]

This afternoon Cooper and I went for a 25 mile drive one way in the "Wayback Machine" to get these photos of a covered bridge in Livingston Manor' date=' NY. A nice ride on back roads all the way there and back.[/quote']

Neat - unfortunately we have about a 275 mile drive to Madison County. IA to get similar pictures.

[Niel Hoback]

There are 37 covered bridges in Parke county Indiana. All the photo ops you want, no waiting.

[Andydodge]

Bob, nice pics, that dogs got you trained well now..........lol........btw I have never seen a covered bridge here in Oz, there might be some but not that I know of..........why were they covered in the 1st place?...........weight of snow?........thanks, andyd

[Joe Flanagan]

Part of it was structural. But they discovered at some point that covered bridges last a lot longer than uncovered ones. There may be other reasons that I'm unaware of. They were used as meeting places (clandestine and otherwise). They were also a popular place to post advertisements and announcments. Check the inside of one sometime. You can find centuries' worth of old nails and scraps of posters and whatnot and some of this stuff is very old. You'll also fiind some of the oldest graffiti ever. Covered bridges were a thriving industry in the USA for a long time. There were companies that specialized in designing and building them. There were patented patterns and pattern books with all kinds of different designs. A town could often have the pre-cut parts delivered and ready to go. I might have posted this once before, but the Dept. of Transportation has done a lot to help communities preserve their covered bridges and even produced a technical manual on how to repair and maintain them without destroying their historical integrity.

[Young Ed]

At least part of why they last longer is the roof keeps rain and snow and sun from damaging the wood decking.

[greg g]

From what I've seen lately is that they provide secluded places where young Amish couples can sneek a bit of unpublic affection.

[1940plymouth]

http://http://www.coveredbridgesite.com/ny/nycb_sul.html

Here is a link to the covered bridges in Sullivan County

[Chester Brzostowski]

Part of it was structural. But they discovered at some point that covered bridges last a lot longer than uncovered ones. There may be other reasons that I'm unaware of. They were used as meeting places (clandestine and otherwise). They were also a popular place to post advertisements and announcments. Check the inside of one sometime. You can find centuries' worth of old nails and scraps of posters and whatnot and some of this stuff is very old. You'll also fiind some of the oldest graffiti ever. Covered bridges were a thriving industry in the USA for a long time. There were companies that specialized in designing and building them. There were patented patterns and pattern books with all kinds of different designs. A town could often have the pre-cut parts delivered and ready to go. I might have posted this once before, but the Dept. of Transportation has done a lot to help communities preserve their covered bridges and even produced a technical manual on how to repair and maintain them without destroying their historical integrity.

Nice info Joe, How did you come to know so much about covered bridges??

Chet...

[Niel Hoback]

http://www.coveredbridges.com/index.php/covered_bridges?cfid=52

Covered bridge pictures.

[Joe Flanagan]

I work for the National Park Service and we have a unit called the Historic American Engineering Record, which documents historic factories, plants, bridges, ships, etc. Basically everything that has to do with this country's engineering history. We formed a partnership with Dept. of Transportation to document as many covered bridges as possible because they are disappearing. Documentation includes large format photography, measured drawings, perspective drawings, and a full written history of each bridge.

NPS does a lot of interesting things like this that no one knows about. All the information is collected at the Library of Congress web site, so anyone can explore this history. Free.

[Don Coatney]

http://www.coveredbridges.com/index.php/covered_bridges?cfid=52

Covered bridge pictures.

Niel'

Interesting web site. Pasted below is some information tha I read on that web site and it reminded me of a letter to my grandfather written on July 23-24, 1914 by one of my Spurgeon family members. The letter is pasted below.

In the 1800's covered bridges were practical due to the abundance of virgin timber and were covered to protect the floorboards. Another reason the bridges were covered is the fact that the horsed did not like to cross the open bridges where they could see and hear the rushing water. The bridges were covered and, you will notice, the entrances look like that of a barn. The horses would enter willingly. Covered bridges were known as "kissing bridges" as courting couples were prone to stop and steal a kiss before leaving the bridge.

[Niel Hoback]

Don, I've heard that theory of the horses thinking they were going into a barn, but your Aunt Rachel's letter sort of disproves it.

It must be great fun for you to read all those bits of history you've got from your family.

When I get back home, I will try to get the Plymouth down to Crown Point and get pictures of the bridge on the fairgrounds.

Thanks for posting that letter.

[1940plymouth]

Niel,

That is neat that your fairgrounds has a covered bridge also. Our fairgrounds in Grahamsville has a covered bridge as its main entrance. It was built in 1976 for the bi-centennial.

I will be looking forward to your photos.

Bob