Cabin Creek Covered Bridge, Tollesboro Kentucky
Cabin Creek is believed to have been named for a pioneer log cabin built by one of the first settlers of this region. About 75 yards from the creek and covered bridge, it forms a picturesque setting of backwoods Kentucky.
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 19th century. The roads 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.
Bridge Description
The Cabin Creek Covered Bridge in Lewis County is located 4.5 miles northwest of Tollesboro on Kentucky Highway 984 about 12.4 miles from the Lewis-Fleming County line.
Its origins are ambiguous, as conflicting dates of 1867 and 1875 are given for its inception and the name of the builder has been lost. Built on the Burr truss design with a laminated arch and truss rods added later, it withstands heavy traffic daily. It has a load rating of four tons, and a clearance of ll feet, 9 inches, with limestone abutments. It is 114 feet in length. Like the Ringos Mill Covered Bridge in Fleming County, the lack of siding under the eaves creates a clerestory effect along its entire length.
The incorporation of an arch by Louis Bower in the early 1900s along its entire length required skew backs where the arch meets the abutments. The skews are beginning to rot, endangering the arch. In addition, truss rods were utilized underneath the bridge floor. The entire structure restoration increased the strength by about 40%.
