Bennett's Mill Covered Bridge, Lynn Kentucky

Date added: September 24, 2023 Categories: Kentucky Covered Bridges Long Truss

At one time Kentucky had hundreds of covered bridges spanning her rivers. Just prior to World War II, sixty-five were still standing. By 1952, the numbers had shrunk to thirty-nine. Now only sixteen remain. These sixteen, which represent a variety of structural types, are concentrated in the central and northeast sections of the state in the small communities or rural areas of the state.

Many reasons have been offered to explain the construction of covered bridges in Kentucky during the 19^th century. The road across the bridges were kept dry and free of snow in winter. Most important, however, was the protection the covering over the bridges provided against the deterioration of the wood. It permitted the timbered trusses and braces to season properly and kept water out of the joints. The life of the bridge was, therefore, significantly prolonged, averaging, generally seven to eight times that of one left uncovered.

Many of the covered bridges owe their present survival to modern spans constructed nearby that relieve the covered bridges of heavy traffic. Six are now closed to vehicular traffic although, like the others, they are visited by large numbers of tourists. All but one are publicly owned. Few are well maintained and most are in need of immediate repair or restoration if their preservation is to be secured.

The Long Truss

The Long Truss was designed and patented by Colonel Stephen H. Long, an Army engineer of Hopkinton, N.H., in 1830, at the beginning of the railroad era. The truss was of the panel type with crossed single timbers between wooden posts, Long, like Town, was a promoter and competed successfully in selling his truss for highway and railroad use from Main to the Deep South. The truss was essentially a multiple king post with counterbraces. Although the patent showed two single diagonals, practically all bridge now in use are built with two braces and one counterbraces in each panel, and with either one or two posts. The arrival and immediate popularity of the Howe Truss in 1840 affected the number of Long Trusses built, and there are today only 19 left, most of them over 150 feet in length. Among these is the well-known double-barrel Blenheim Bridge in New York and Rowell's Bridge in NH Both have arches, and the latter has double-intersecting diagonals, the only example extant. Another interesting modified Long Truss which is combined with a Childs Truss and has an auxiliary arch is located at Odaville, W. VA. Oxford, Ohio, also has an interesting Long and Childs combination There is a unique "home-made" design in Thomas Store, Ga.

Bridge Description

The Bennett's Mill Covered Bridge sits over Tygart's Creek, several miles south of the creek's junction with the Ohio River in the northeast tip of Kentucky. The bridge is just off Kentucky Route 7 in Greenup County, County Road 2125.

The single span of 195 feet is of Col. Stephen H. Longs's truss design. It has a 5-ton load limit and is still open to vehicular traffic.

Since its construction around 1855 or 1856, the bridge has never received a coat of paint and has since weathered to its present handsome silver-gray appearance: The side boards have been cut short of the roof line for ventilation and lighting. Saw-toothed portals along with board-and-batten siding distinguish this bridge from most others.

Comparison of the Bennett's Mill Covered Bridge and Franklin County's Switzer Covered Bridge, shows them to be not unlike. In addition, the truss systems of the two are similar except that Switzer, built on William Howe's design, substitutes metal tie-rods for Long's timber uprights.