Mary's River Covered Bridge, Chester Illinois
- Categories:
- Illinois
- Covered Bridges
- Burr Arch
At the time of construction of the Mary's River Covered Bridge in 1854, the town of Chester was an important trading post because of its location on the Mississippi River. Marketable products such as wheat, corn, lumber, etc., were hauled to Chester by wagons and ox carts and loaded into boats on the river.
To facilitate the hauling of supplies to Chester, a one-way plank road 8 or 9 feet wide with frequent turnouts for passing was constructed from Chester to Bremen. This road was owned by a Mr. Hartmann who operated it as a toll road. Mr. Hartmann financed the construction of the road and the covered bridge. Sometime between 1870 and 1875 the planked road, stone culverts, covered bridge, and right-of-way were sold to the County.
The bridge is thought to be the second oldest covered bridge in Illinois; and in fact, could be the oldest as the Henderson Creek Bridge near Gladstone, built in 1845-46, was perhaps rebuilt.
Bridge Description
This bridge was completed in 1854 and was constructed of native white oak timber, hand-hewn throughout. Except for the floor, floor joists, roof, and siding, all of the original timber remains in this bridge. The first roof lasted 45 years. The floor has been replaced several times. This bridge was in constant use from 1854 until 1930. The name of the builder and the cost of construction are not known.
It was originally part of a Planked Toll Road between Bremen and Chester. The bridge is a Burr Arch design with double arches on either side of the King posts. The structure is 86 feet long, 17 feet, 8 inches wide, and has a vertical clearance of 12 feet. Steel channels have been placed under the lower chord for support. The structure rests on the original stone abutments.
