Valley Pike Covered Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Valley Pike Covered Bridge
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 Location in Kentucky
Location in the United States
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| Location | On Valley Pike, approximately 1.5 miles from intersection with Kentucky Route 10 |
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| Built | Unknown |
| Architectural style | Single kingpost |
| NRHP reference No. | 76000924 |
| Added to NRHP | March 26, 1976 |
The Valley Pike Covered Bridge was a special historic bridge in Mason County, Kentucky, United States. It was a type of bridge with a roof and walls, built to protect the wooden parts inside. This bridge crossed the Frasure Branch of Lee Creek. Because it was so important, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.
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What Was the Valley Pike Covered Bridge?
The Valley Pike Covered Bridge was a unique structure. It was located in Mason County, Kentucky. The bridge helped people cross the Frasure Branch of Lee Creek. In 1976, it was recognized as a historic place. This meant it was important to the history of the area.
How Was the Bridge Built?
The bridge used a special design called a single kingpost system. This is a strong way to build a bridge using wooden beams. The bridge rested on stone supports called abutments at each end. These stone parts held the bridge up.
The bridge was quite short, only about 30 to 35 feet long. This short length worked well with the single kingpost design. The outside of the bridge had tin siding and a tin roof. This helped protect the wood inside from the weather.
The Valley Pike Covered Bridge was also special because it was the only privately owned covered bridge in Kentucky. It was used by a family to get to their farmland.
Why Did People Build Covered Bridges?
People built covered bridges in Kentucky for several good reasons, especially in the 1800s.
- Protection from Weather: The roof and walls kept the road dry. This meant less snow and ice in winter.
- Longer Life: The main reason was to protect the wood. The cover kept rain and sun from damaging the wooden parts. This made the bridge last much longer, sometimes seven to eight times longer than an uncovered bridge!
- Stronger Wood: The cover also helped the wooden beams and supports "season" properly. This means the wood dried out slowly and became stronger over time. It also kept water out of the joints, which are the places where the wood pieces connect.
The Bridge's Short History
The Valley Pike Covered Bridge was exactly 24 feet long. This made it one of the shortest covered bridges ever built in Kentucky. It was tied with another bridge built around 1820 in Scott County, which was taken down in 1926.
The Valley Pike Bridge was owned by a private person, Mr. Douglas Daugherty. Even though he tried to repair it several times, the bridge got very old and worn out. Sadly, it was taken down in June 2018.
