Gudgeonville Covered Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Gudgeonville Covered Bridge |
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The bridge before its destruction, July 2008
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| Coordinates | 41°58′56″N 80°16′01″W / 41.98222°N 80.26694°W |
| Carries | Township 400 |
| Crosses | Elk Creek |
| Locale | Erie, Pennsylvania, United States |
| Official name | Gudgeonville Covered Bridge |
| Other name(s) | Gudgeonville Road |
| Maintained by | Girard Township |
| NBI Number | 257207040040080 |
| Characteristics | |
| Total length | 84 ft (26 m) |
| Width | 14 ft (4.3 m) |
| Height | 10 ft (3.0 m) |
| Load limit | 4.5 t (5.0 short tons) |
| History | |
| Designer | William Sherman |
| Constructed by | William Sherman |
| MPS | Covered Bridges of Erie County TR |
| NRHP reference No. | 80003491 |
| Added to NRHP | September 17, 1980 |
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The Gudgeonville Covered Bridge was a special type of wooden bridge, 84-foot (25.6 m) long, that crossed Elk Creek. It was located in Girard Township, Erie County, in Pennsylvania.
This bridge was built way back in 1868. It was so important that it was added to the National Register of Historic Places on September 17, 1980. Sadly, the bridge was completely destroyed by a fire, which police later found out was arson, on November 8, 2008.
The Gudgeonville Covered Bridge was the oldest of only three covered bridges left in Erie County. It was quite old and not in the best shape. Experts said its condition was "basically intolerable," meaning it really needed fixing.
Contents
The Bridge's Story
How the Bridge Was Built
The Gudgeonville Bridge was first built around 1868. It had to be rebuilt in the early 1870s because of an earlier fire. The bridge crossed Elk Creek in Girard Township. A person named William Sherman designed and built it.
Some people believe the bridge's base was made from parts of the old Erie Extension Canal. The name "Gudgeonville" is a bit of a mystery. Some say it was named because it led to a factory that made "gudgeons," which are types of pins or axles.
Life of the Bridge
Over the years, the Gudgeonville Bridge faced many challenges. It was damaged by small fires and often had problems with vandalism. Because of these issues, people suggested different ideas to protect it.
One idea was to take the bridge apart and move it to a safer place. Another idea was to build a new bridge next to it. This was because the old bridge was too narrow for many modern vehicles, like snowplows, fire trucks, and ambulances, to cross safely.
In 2001, a book about Pennsylvania's covered bridges said the Gudgeonville Bridge was "structurally sound." However, it also said its look was "most disappointing." Government reports showed the bridge's foundations were not very stable. Also, its railings were not safe by modern standards. Fixing the bridge would have cost about $107,000.
How the Bridge Was Lost
The Gudgeonville Covered Bridge caught fire very early in the morning on November 8, 2008. Police later confirmed that someone had purposely set the fire. This is called arson.
A little over a month later, on December 17, police arrested two people. They admitted to pouring gasoline on the bridge and setting it on fire. These same people were also involved in other incidents in nearby counties. They were later held responsible for destroying the bridge.
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After the fire, the burned parts of the bridge were removed to make way for a new, temporary bridge. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) decided not to build an exact copy of the old covered bridge. This was because a replica would not meet today's safety rules.
A temporary, ready-made bridge was put up in August 2009. This was paid for by the township's insurance. A permanent concrete bridge would have taken three years to design and build. Without a bridge, people would have had to drive an extra 2-mile (3 km) to get around.
Images for kids
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The north entrance of the Gudgeonville Covered Bridge, July 2008
