I have finally decided it was time to write that list down. I do much better with a visual list of things that I want to accomplish. I am finding that the more I go out and photograph things that there are more things I want to add to the list.
One thing that has been on my mental bucket list for a few years now is Covered Bridges. There are three of them within an hour drive of my house, yet I have never gone to explore them.
Motivated by Lissa Forbes' Walk and Click Wednesdays, I decided that the time had come to go on this adventure. The weather was beautiful for late October in Michigan, sunny and in the 70's.
ADA BRIDGE - The first Covered Bridge is located in Ada a cute historic town and home to the Amway Corporation.
HISTORY
Open only to pedestrian traffic, the 125' Ada Covered Bridge spans the Thornapple River at the town's public park. An act of the legislature in 1867 authorized the Ada Township to borrow up to $3000 for the purpose of building or repairing bridges in the township. This bridge was built about that time, apparently by William Holmes.
The bridge has been threatened by floods a number of times. It is said that farmers used to drive wagons loaded with stones onto the bridge during high water to hold it to the foundation. The bridge closed to automobile traffic in 1930.
When heavy snows collapsed the roof in 1979, the people of Ada mounted an all-out effort to raise funds to restore the bridge. Shortly after the repairs were finished, however, the bridge was completely destroyed by fire. Not to be disheartened, the citizens, with the help of nearby Amway Corporation, once again rallied to the aid of their beloved bridge. The structure standing today is a testament to their perseverance.
* History information source http://my.net-link.net/~michaelf/ada.htm
Fallasburg Bridge - The second Covered Bridge was about a 10 minute drive from the Ada Bridge. This bridge is located in beautiful Fallasburg Park and Historic Village.
The 100 foot, single span Fallasburg Bridge crosses the Flat River five miles north of Lowell. About 1840 the first of several wooden bridges was placed across the Flat River, but all fell victim to high water and massive spring ice jams. Bridge builder Jared N. Bresee of Ada was given the contract in 1871 to build the present structure. Completed at a cost of $1500, the bridge has lattice work trusses made of white pine timbers. Repairs in 1905 and 1945 have kept the Fallasburg Bridge safe for traffic for more than one hundred and twenty five years.
*History information source http://my.net-link.net/~michaelf/fallsbrg.htm
Whites Bridge - The third bridge was probably another 10 minutes away. I thought this one had great potential. The rolling scenery leading to it was amazing.
This road turned into a winding gravel road that led deeper and deeper into the Autumn colored woods. And then...disappointment. The bridge itself was beautiful, but the signs in front of it and the neon pink spray paint graffiti on the actual front of the bridge were huge let downs.
HISTORY
When an ice jam on the Flat River in the spring of 1869 demolished the second White's bridge, an inferior structure built for a paltry $250, the people of Smyrna in Ionia County thought to erect something more substantial, even though they had no means of immediate payment.
Jared N. Bresee and Joseph H. Walker took the contract to construct a 120 foot covered bridge on the site, for a deferred payment of $1000 in 1870 and $700 in 1871. The builders used some second-hand lumber for floor planking in an effort to finish the job quickly, but when the commission discovered auger holes, they deducted $25 from the first payment.
Except for occasional siding replacement and a new roof, White's Bridge is much the same today as it was when erected more than a century ago.
* History Source information http://my.net-link.net/~michaelf/whites.htm
I was so happy to cross the Covered Bridges off my "bucket list", but yet I don't think that they are truly crossed off because I want to come back and photography them again in the winter and in the spring, so maybe instead of crossed off they just got repositioned on the bucket list.
10 comments:
This is wonderful! I wish I lived there so I could see these in person. We don't have covered bridges in SC, I don't think.
wow. We dont have these here . Just beautiful
What a wonderful road trip with your camera! The bridges are lovely, and that shot you captured of the rippling road is amazing! Thank you for sharing. :)
Sarah, these bridges have so much character. I'm so glad you did your tour of nearby areas to discover them. They remind me of the Bridge of Madison County! Just lovely. And an added bonus that you gave us some history. Thanks for joining Walk and Click Wednesdays. This is exactly the kind of adventure I've hoped to inspire. ;->
OH Sarah....sad to admit... did not even know these beautiful bridges were in our great state...great pics :)
I love seeing these covered bridges - so interesting!
Awesome covered bridge photos! There is something magical about them isn't there?
Lovely post, I have never seen one in person. Hope to some day.
lovely I don't think we have covered bridges in the UK but I did visit one near Squam back in 2006 they have so much character ..
What a great day of photography! Love the picture of the Fallsburg bridge. The pink graffiti on the Whites Bridge almost looks like it's a flower on the branches nearby.
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