Union Covered Bridge, Paris Missouri
The Union Covered Bridge is one of only four surviving covered bridges in Missouri. It is the only surviving example of the Burr Arch truss in Missouri.
The Union Covered Bridge spans the Elk Fork of the Salt River on the old Paris to Fayette Road in Monroe County. It was named after the Union Church once located nearby.
In the early days of bridge construction in Monroe County, citizens could petition the county court for a bridge. The county road commissioner was then ordered to choose the bridge site, estimate the cost, and supervise the construction. The commissioner advertised for bids and listed requirements for bridge completion. In the case of the Elk Fork bridge, the bridge needed to have rock abutments, a span of 120', and be constructed from some of the approved plans.
On April 8th, 1870, the county court ordered the construction of a bridge "across the Elk Fork of Salt River, near the Union Church where the road leading from Paris to Fayette crosses said stream and on the same place of the Old Bridge." The court also appropriated $5,000 for the bridge's construction and awarded the contract to Joseph C. Elliot of Payson, Illinois. Before this time, Elliot had constructed four covered bridges in Monroe County based on the construction plans of Theodore Burr.
Burr, an eastern bridge builder, altered the popular kingpost truss type of bridge construction by strengthening and extending the truss with an arch composed of segments of hewn timber bolted to the bridge frame. This adaptation by Burr was patented in 1817 and called the Burr arch truss. Burr built 45 bridges by the time he was 47 years of age and his ideas were modified and used in countless others. Bridge builders, such as Elliot, were unsure of the strength of the kingpost truss when used by itself and added on the Burr arch. Elliot made a further alteration and used a double arch to give his bridges additional strength and stability.
The Union Covered Bridge was completed by September 7th, 1871, at which time the county court authorized the last payment to Elliot for $1,500.
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 1800's, but floods, fire, vandalism, and age have destroyed the majority of them.
The Missouri State Park Board owns and maintains Union Covered Bridge. The other three surviving bridges are: Locust Creek Covered Bridge in Linn County, Sandy Creek Covered Bridge in Jefferson County, and Burfordville Covered Bridge in Cape Girardeau County.
Bridge Description
The Union Covered Bridge was originally constructed in 1871 and is located in Monroe County on the old Paris to Fayette Road. It spans the Elk Fork of the Salt River. Its long axis is oriented east to west.
The bridge is approximately 125' long and 17'6"' wide. It is supported by stone abutments which extend into the road and serve as the bridge approach.
The exterior of the rectangular structure, which covers the bridge floor, consists of horizontal siding painted white. The interior structural units are of heavy oak timber. The original material of the ridge roof has been replaced with sawed wood shingles. The overhang protects ventilation openings that run the length of the upper chord and an additional shorter series of vents are located midway on either side. The openings also provide light for the interior. At either end are spacious rectangular portals.
Inside the bridge, there are no enclosures and the details of the Burr arch truss construction are visible. The upright and diagonal timbers are contained within parallel arches. The trusses are held in a vertical position by cross-bracing overhead and beneath the floor of the bridge. The floor is wood and is laid crosswise.
The bridge was restored in 1968 by the Missouri State Park Board.
View from the south to the north (1970)
View from the north to the south (1970)
View from the southwest to the northeast. This view shows characteristic construction details of the Burr Arch truss (1970)
View from the northeast to the southwest of the approach to the bridge. The masonry work of the stone abutments extend into the road and serve as the bridge approach (1970)
View of roof from the east to the west. Overhead cross bracing supports the vertical trussing (1970)
