General question about covered bridges-

Why?

Dan on 25th February 2015 @ 7:04am

Yes, this bridge was on Woodworth Road, not too far down from Hwy 35. Just off the drive way going to the Dougherty home. It was there when I was in childhood, but was gone by my early teens. This view is looking back towards 35 and the hills behind.

Charlott on 25th February 2015 @ 7:08am

Basically two reasons that bridges were covered. The covers helped protect the bridge deck, etc. from the elements, such as rain, snow and ice.

Secondly, some horses and cattle were reluctant to cross an open bridge because they saw the rushing water. By having the bridges covered, though many of them had like windows or open areas, it could block the view of the movement of the water to some degree and animals were more easily kept under control, as they crossed the bridge.

Charlott on 25th February 2015 @ 7:12am

Dan, I've always heard it was to protect the bridge deck and stringers from rot and bugs in the days before good pressure treating. I think this one was built similar to a truss type construction to support the span, and the covering preserved the trusses from decay.

spinsur on 25th February 2015 @ 7:14am

Covered bridges--a good place for kids to ride their bikes and play when it was raining on the coast.

Buzz on 25th February 2015 @ 7:25am

sorry Charlotte, that was typed/sent before your comment popped up.

spinsur on 25th February 2015 @ 7:28am

Thanks, I completely overlooked both those issues.

Dan on 25th February 2015 @ 7:54am

Oh I remember this bridge. My mother was born just downstream, the north side of the present bridge. She said in the summertime, the local natives camped on the west side of this bridge while they picked huckleberries and bear grass. We picked mushrooms along the river there for years too. I think it was the last covered bridge in the county. Maybe the only one?

Dedilee on 25th February 2015 @ 10:04am

What was on the sides? Corrugated sheathing?

Longshot on 25th February 2015 @ 10:39am

The cover was to prevent trolls from jumping out from underneath, scaring the bejabbers out of the horses and demanding a ransom to cross.

I have seen cattle absolutely refuse to cross a bridge, but I don't know if a cover would have helped. I'm curious about that. We had to end up swimming them across the small river.
I'm sure a wooden deck could turn very slippery under a horses hooves, causing them to slip and then panic but something else I was wondering about..... Have you ever seen a road with deep snow where no one has traveled? It is really hard to distinguish where the edge of the road is.
I know it seems like it would be easy to tell where the side of a bridge is, but it sure wouldn't be easy at night.

l.e. on 25th February 2015 @ 3:44pm

Timbers were untreated at that time, I understand ten years was expected of the wood without cover and double that with cover. If not a member of "The Covered Bridge Society of Oregon", it is definitely worthwhile..

Kenn on 25th February 2015 @ 4:26pm