Mosby Creek Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mosby Creek Bridge |
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| Coordinates | 43°46′42″N 123°00′17″W / 43.77833°N 123.00472°W |
| Carries | Layng Road |
| Crosses | Mosby Creek |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Covered, Howe truss |
| Total length | 90 feet (27 m) |
| Width | 13.5 feet (4.1 m) |
| Clearance above | 12.3 feet (3.7 m) |
| History | |
| Constructed by | Walter and Miller Sorensen |
| Construction end | 1920 |
| Closed | 1979 |
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Mosby Creek Bridge
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 Location in Oregon
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | Cottage Grove, Oregon |
| Area | 0.1 acres (0.04 ha) |
| Built | 1920 |
| Architectural style | Howe Truss |
| MPS | Oregon Covered Bridges TR |
| NRHP reference No. | 79002083 |
| Added to NRHP | November 29, 1979 |
The Mosby Creek Bridge, also known as the Layng Bridge, is a historic covered bridge located near Cottage Grove, Oregon, United States. It crosses Mosby Creek. This bridge was built in 1920, making it the oldest covered bridge in Lane County. It's still open for cars to drive across today!
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Building the Mosby Creek Bridge
The Mosby Creek Bridge was built in 1920. It cost $4,125 back then. That would be a lot more money today! Two builders named Walter and Miller Sorensen constructed the bridge.
The bridge got its name from a pioneer named David Mosby. A pioneer is someone who is among the first to settle in a new area. David Mosby settled near where the bridge is now, east of Cottage Grove. He had a very large piece of land, about 1,600 acres.
What Makes This Bridge Special?
The Mosby Creek Bridge has some cool and unique design features. When you look at the entrances to the bridge, called portal arches, they are shaped like a half-circle.
The roof of the bridge also has special ribbon openings. These are small gaps at the roofline that let light and air in. The sides of the bridge are covered with board-and-batten siding. This is a type of siding where wide boards are placed side-by-side, and then thin strips of wood (battens) cover the gaps between them.
The bridge uses a special design called a Howe truss. A truss is a framework of beams that supports a structure. The Howe truss design uses both wood and iron rods to make the bridge very strong. This design was created by William Howe in the 1840s.
Keeping the Bridge Strong
Over the years, the Mosby Creek Bridge has been carefully looked after. In 1990, the bridge had a big restoration project. This means it was repaired and made strong again.
More recently, in 2002, the roof was updated. The old metal roof was replaced with a new, strong synthetic material. Other repairs were also done to keep the bridge in great shape.
A Historic Landmark
Because of its age and unique design, the Mosby Creek Bridge is considered very important. In 1979, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This is a list of places in the United States that are important to history.
The Mosby Creek Bridge is special because it's the only covered bridge in its area that is still open for traffic. The county regularly checks on the bridge and takes care of it. This helps make sure it stays safe and strong for many more years!
