A bit out of the way but how far is too far out of the way to visit a covered bridge? This one is northwest of Cowden and hopefully, Yelp leaves the pin where I have placed it.
No longer an active bridge as it's been replaced by a boring concrete bridge with no pizazz or fanciness. There is a marker on the bridge that provides some context and history. It reads, "The road on which this bridge is located was once an important route between Springfield and Effingham. The bridge was completed in the Autumn of 1868 at a cost of $2,500 and named for the owner of the first mill near here. It is the narrowest of all the covered bridges in Illinois, with a width of only 10 feet 7 inches. It is 11 feet 4 inches high and the siding stops before reaching the top cord to allow light to come in under the roof. The Howe Truss system, which the bridge uses, consists of panels in which two members cross one diagonal. The truss of this bridge is 105 feet long. The roof of the bridge protected the truss from the weather." It points out that the marker was erected by the Illinois Department of Transportation and the Illinois State Historical Society in 1972.
The north side of the bridge has a parking area that was easy to access. The bridge itself is in fair condition, covered in graffiti and the area is overgrown with weeds.
[Review 19685 overall - 140 in Illinois - 657 of 2023.] read more