History Cogan House Covered Bridge

1 history

1.1 background
1.2 construction , description
1.3 use , restoration

history

background

the first covered bridge in united states built on schuylkill river in philadelphia, pennsylvania in 1800. of first burr arch truss covered bridges built in state. pennsylvania estimated have once had @ least 1,500 covered bridges, , believed have had in country between 1830 , 1875. in 2001 pennsylvania had more surviving historic covered bridges other state, 221 remaining in 40 of commonwealth s 67 counties.

covered bridges transition between stone , cast-iron , steel bridges. in 19th-century pennsylvania, lumber abundant resource bridge construction, did not last long when exposed weather , elements. roof , enclosed sides of covered bridges protected structural elements, allowing of these bridges survive on century. burr arch truss consists of load-bearing arch sandwiching multiple king posts, resulting in bridge both stronger , more rigid 1 built using either element alone.

in 1850 plank road built in lycoming county, mouth of larrys creek borough of salladasburg, pennsylvania. later extended north along second fork of larrys creek far unincorporated villages of brookside , white pine in cogan house township, , went far large tannery in village of english center in pine township on little pine creek. branch of plank road followed larrys creek north salladasburg. while exact length unknown, landis reports may have reached site of covered bridge.

before there bridge, there ford @ site bridge later built. wagons of finished leather , raw hides came , went english center tannery via white pine, seeking avoid traffic on plank road along second fork. other traffic went , large sawmill @ white pine , other mills west , north. traffic north crossed larrys creek, , continued either east on buckhorn mountain williamsport , elmira railroad @ village of cogan station on lycoming creek, or south down road along larrys creek. road led tannery on larrys creek 1 mile (1.6 km) south of ford, , plank road along main branch of creek. plank road toll road , connected railroad, west branch division of pennsylvania canal, , west branch susquehanna river @ creek s mouth.

because ford impassable in winter or bad weather, or during high water, petition citizens of cogan house township bridge built filed in september 1876. asked county build bridge beyond resources of township so. petition read on september 30, 1876, , 3 viewers appointed on november 3 examine site , report back. viewers reported in favor of building bridge on november 25. on january 23, 1877, county grand jury approved report , construction of bridge.

construction , description

interior view of burr arch , timber framing; red metal framework beyond west entrance prevents vehicles larger posted limits entering.

landis not if bridge built in 1877 or 1878, every other source mentions date agrees 1877. valentine ( tine ) meyers (or meyer), millwright , resident of hamlet of quiggleville in lycoming township, built bridge. timbers bridge cut @ , down , steam powered sawmill owned robert wood, short distance north of bridge site. head sawyer @ mill john mecum. wood used pine, cut in nearby forests , hauled in ox carts mill. largest timbers used in bridge 16 feet (4.9 m) long.

meyers not believed have had experience building bridges , set construction in unique manner. timber framework first assembled in field next sawmill, each new piece bolted place after being cut. if piece did not fit, more careful measurements made , new piece cut , tested. outlines of sections curved beams burr arch first marked chalk on wood, saw crew lifted , guided hand against sawblade cut curve. after framework completed in field, taken apart, loaded onto same ox carts used bring logs mill, , taken bridge site. there framework reassembled on bridge abutments. bolts used hold of large pieces together, while cross-pieces , small braces nailed in place.

underside of bridge looking west

the cogan house covered bridge added nrhp in 1980 , listed on 2009 national bridge inventory (nbi). according nbi, covered bridge 94 feet 2 inches (28.7 m) long, roadway 14 feet 5 inches (4.4 m) wide, , maximum load of 7.2 short tons (6.5 t). according nrhp, bridge s road surface width 19 feet 7 inches (6.0 m), load 4.0 short tons (3.6 t), , clearance height 10 feet 6 inches (3.2 m). width sufficient single lane of traffic. of 2011, clearance height posted on bridge has been reduced 8 feet 6 inches (2.6 m), , posted maximum load has been reduced 3.0 short tons (2.7 t). according landis, top of burr arch 11 feet (3.4 m) above floor of bridge.

the covered bridge rests on original stone abutments, have since been reinforced concrete made of cement. bridge deck made of crosswise planking, overlaid runners in western half , lengthwise planking in eastern half. upper part of portals , clapboard siding made of pine boards, , stops 3 feet (0.9 m) below roof line. although bridge painted red part of 1998 restoration, in 1964 described unpainted, , not seem have been painted in 1980, nrhp nomination form describes how rough horizontal siding ... help[s] small bridge blend surrounding forest . roof covered wooden shingles. bridge not have parapets , has no steel reinforcements .

use , restoration

view of bridge on larrys creek, burr arch (red) , kingposts (black) visible above siding

the cogan house covered bridge 1 on larrys creek survive major flood on june 1, 1889, washed out other bridges throughout lycoming county. large fallen maple tree formed dam across larrys creek, upstream of bridge; dam blocked debris , diverted brunt of floodwaters. same flood destroyed larrys creek plank road , canal @ creek s mouth. same storm system caused johnstown flood, killed on 2,200 people.

after flood plank road reconstructed far north salladasburg, time traffic english center tannery went on bridge on way railroad @ cogan station. however, virgin timber supplied local tanneries , sawmills clear-cut within several years of flood. without timber, industries used roads leading bridge closed , local villages declined, or, in case of buckhorn, disappeared.

by 1900, there 4 remaining covered bridges on larrys creek: going upstream @ hamlet of larryville in piatt township, @ or near mud run in mifflin township, in salladasburg, , in cogan house township. of 2011, cogan house covered bridge oldest , longest of 3 19th-century covered bridges remaining in lycoming county (the others buttonwood covered bridge in jackson township on blockhouse creek, , lairdsville covered bridge in moreland township on little muncy creek).

the bridge had needed repairs made in 1964, , original stone abutments reinforced concrete prior 1966. added nrhp on july 24, 1980 in multiple property submission of 7 covered bridges of bradford, sullivan , lycoming counties, , painted , creosoted in 1981. 1980 nrhp form , zacher s 1994 book both list bridge s condition good. lycoming county commissioners had bridge rehabilitated in 1998, @ cost of $105,493. general contractor restoration lycoming supply inc., replaced structural beams treated southern pine , dutch lap or clapboard siding white pine. purlins , rafters reconstructed using treated yellow pine, , support new roof of cedar shake shingles. deck , floor of bridge solid , required few repairs. bridge painted red, , stone pillar built plaques marking restoration , bridge s inclusion on nrhp.

view of bridge , larrys creek southwest, private hunting cabin (white) on buckhorn mountain behind it

because bridge listed on nrhp, pennsylvania historical , museum commission had approve renovation. pennsylvania department of transportation (penndot) , federal highway administration (fhwa) funds helped pay work done. dedication ceremony held on october 30, 1998, lycoming county commissioner russell reitz , penndot director of municipal services thomas lyons cutting plank on wooden sawhorses old crosscut saw ribbon cutting ceremony. other county commissioners , local state representative , state senator present , spoke, did representative of theodore burr covered bridge society of pennsylvania .

in august 2000 inspection revealed 1 of timber arches of cogan house covered bridge damaged vehicle on weight limit crossing bridge. propane delivery truck making delivery private hunting cabin served bridge thought have caused damage. lycoming supply inc. won bid repair work in december, @ cost of $6,300. before repair bridge remained open , safe use. evans 2001 book describes condition of bridge excellent.

despite restoration , repairs, 2009 fhwa national bridge inventory found sufficiency rating of bridge structure 17.2 percent. inventory found condition of bridge deck , substructure satisfactory, while superstructure poor. further found bridge s foundations determined stable assessed or calculated scour conditions , railings not meet acceptable standards . overall condition deemed intolerable requiring high priority of corrective action ; 2006 nbi estimated cost improve bridge @ $143,000.

the bridge still used, although public dirt road ends in cul de sac on east side. gated private road continues private hunting camp , provides access pennsylvania state game lands no. 114. bridge has posted speed limit of 10 miles per hour (16 km/h) , average daily traffic ten vehicles in 2009. pennsylvania s covered bridges: complete guide notes despite being located in rather remote area, worth trip see beautifully restored historic treasure.