Fallasburg Covered Bridge, Vergennes Michigan
In 1837 John W. and Silas S. Fallass founded a village on a bend of the Flat River. The village, Fallasburg, relied upon the proximity of hard and soft woods and waterpower for its livelihood. Unlike nearby Grand Rapids, the village was not able to capitalize on these resources, and its industrial development was only modest; a saw mill, several blacksmith shops, a chair factory with three employees, and a flour mill. The mills were owned by John Fallass, and Silas operated the general store.
The first of several wooden bridges was placed across the river about 1840, but all succumbed in short time to high water and massive spring ice jams. In 1871 the township contracted bridge builder Jared N. Bresee of nearby Ada to build the present substantial structure. Constructed for $1500, the Fallasburg Covered Bridge has lattice work trusses made of white pine timbers.
At its peak, the population of Fallasburg did not number more than about a hundred. This began to decline in the late 1880s. By 1901 the village no longer rated a post office.
Probably because the bridge was tucked away on little-used Covered Bridge Road in rural Kent County, it survived into the mid-twentieth century. Repairs and strengthening in 1905 and 1945 kept the bridge safe for vehicular traffic. Just three covered bridges in Michigan are open to traffic, and only the bridge at Smyrna possesses comparable rustic charm.
Bridge Description
Built in 1871 for $1500 the Fallasburg Covered Bridge is a single span over the Flat River 100 feet long. It was built of white pine with a gable roof and vertical plank on the sides. As in all covered bridges, the roof and siding serve to protect the bridge timbers from rot.
The bridge's timber abutments were repaired several times and replaced by concrete in 1905. The superstructure has the familiar lattice work construction. A 1957 report to the Kent County Road Commission states
The top and bottom chords are exactly alike and are composed of four timbers each. Between each two timbers there is an open space, making three open spaces in both the upper and lower chords. The diagonal members are alternately single and double timbers that project through the spaces in the upper and lower chords. The diagonals are mortised into the top and bottom chords and the pins extend through the seven timbers, namely, the four timbers comprising the chord and three diagonal members. Floor beams 4" by 10" are laid on the bottom chords and 4" by 6" stringers are laid longitudinally on the floor beams. Transverse planking of 3" by 10" material is laid on the stringers with a 'Wearing Course' 10 feet wide made of 2" by 8" plank laid longitudinally. The roadway is fourteen feet wide between trusses and is twelve feet high from the floor to the top chord bracing.
In 1945 the bridge was strengthened for vehicular traffic for $3000. A new floor system was installed, and steel plates and tie rods were added to the wooden trusses.
A sign over the entrance to the bridge reads "$5 Fine For Riding or Driving on This Bridge Faster Than a Walk." The sign reputedly dates from 1872 and has been repainted by the road commission.
Unlike the Ada Covered Bridge, the bridge at Fallasburg is open to normal traffic. It is part of the Kent County road system. An extensive recreational area is adjacent to the bridge, and there are several residences on the east side of the bridge where the original settlement of Fallasburg was located.
