Locust Creek Covered Bridge, Laclede Missouri
The Locust Creek Covered Bridge is one of only four surviving covered bridges in Missouri.
On May 19th, 1868, the county court of Linn County ordered the construction of a covered bridge across Locust Creek on the road from Brookfield to Collyers Mill. The bridge was to be erected "at (a) cost not exceeding $5,500." The Bridge Commissioner of Linn County (appointed by the county court) was in charge of advertising and listing requirements for bids on the bridge, supervising construction and keeping the bridge in good repair. The Locust Creek Covered Bridge was to have a span of 150', 50' of approach (25' on each end) and two substantial abutments which must last 10-15 years. (County Court Docket - Linn County, Book B, May 19th, 1868, p. 7.)
The firm of Bishop and Eaton was awarded the bridge contract by the county court on August 4th, 1868. The payment was to be in 10% bonds. (County Court Docket - Linn County, Book B, August 4th, 1868, p. 24.)
Bishop and Eaton followed the construction plans of William Howe of Massachusetts who patented his bridge truss in 1840. Howe revised the popular kingpost truss, which was composed entirely of wood and consisted of an upright center post (kingpost) framed into a triangle by two diagonals and a bottom chord. Howe combined the use of wood and metal in his truss: wood for the diagonal braces, the upper and lower chords and the end posts; and iron rods for the kingposts. These vertical iron tension rods were secured to the upper and lower chords by means of nuts and washers. These could be tightened at any time to remove the Saggings of old age. The Howe truss was employed or used more than any other bridge type because it was economical, simple to construct, and durable.
The covered bridge movement began in the eastern United States and migrated westward in the 1800s with the shifting frontier. Constructed almost entirely of wood using simple tools, these bridges proved very economical and practical in the forested areas of the United States. The bridges opened up easier lines of transportation and communication in states where streams and rivers were prevalent.
Pioneer builders covered the bridges with a roof and siding just as they "covered' their houses and barns. The roof protected the timber construction from extremes in temperature and kept the bridge floor free from the elements. Many bridges had a barn-like appearance to coax skittish horses and farm animals across rushing streams and rivers.
Thousands of covered bridges were built in the United States, mainly during the 1800s, but floods, fire, vandalism, and age have destroyed the majority of them.
The Missouri State Park Board owns and maintains the Locust Creek Covered Bridge. The other three surviving bridges are: Union Covered Bridge in Monroe County, Sandy Creek Covered Bridge in Jefferson County and Burfordville Covered Bridge in Cape Girardeau County.
Bridge Description
The Locust Creek Covered Bridge is located three miles west of Laclede, Missouri on U.S. Highway 36, one mile north then 5/8 mile east on a gravel road. It was constructed in 1868 by the firm of Bishop and Eaton. The Missouri State Park Board restored the bridge in 1968.
The bridge originally spanned Locust Creek (now dry) with its long axis in a northeast-southwest orientation. It measures 20'3" high, 16'3" wide and 151' long. There are three supporting elements. The abutment at the southwest end of the bridge and the central supporting element are of cut stone, laid in two courses. Supporting timber members of the under structure of the bridge which extend beyond the bridge floor are protected by metal sheathing which then slopes to meet the stone structures. The abutment at the northeast end of the bridge consists of alternating courses of heavy timber laid at right angles.
The rectangular structure with a ridge roof that covers the bridge floor is sheathed with vertical paneling, replacement panels can be easily distinguished. Inside the bridge, there are no enclosures and the original vertical uprights and diagonal hewn timbers characteristic of the Howe truss are visible. The trusses are held in a vertical position by overhead cross-bracing of iron and wood members employing the same principles of bracing. There is also cross bracing beneath the flooring. Square portals at either end measure approximately 12 feet square.
View from the west to the east (1970)
View from the east to the west shows the central supporting element of cut stone layed in two courses (1970)
View from the southwest to the northeast showing the interior overhead construction of the bridge (1970)
