Covered Bridge, Cedarburg Wisconsin
- Categories:
- Wisconsin
- Covered Bridges
- Town Lattice Truss
Of the many covered bridges once to be found on Wisconsin's highways, the old covered bridge on Cedar Creek in Ozaukee County is the last one to survive. When a new bridge was to be built to replace it, the people of Ozaukee County considered the old covered bridge of sufficient historic significance that they decided to build the new bridge parallel to the old one and to preserve the covered bridge as a part of their own and Wisconsin's heritage. The bridge was retired from vehicular use in 1962 and is now the main attraction of a small county park on Cedar Creek. It is used both for pedestrian traffic and for sheltering picnic tables.
Built in 1876, the covered bridge is of latticed timber truss construction and is covered with vertical boards and battens and a low gabled roof. It is approximately 20 feet wide, 23 feet high to the roof ridge, and 180 feet long.
Pine logs, cut and milled at Baraboo Wisconsin were fitted and set in place in lattice truss construction with 3 by 10-inch planks secured by 2-inch hardwood pins, eliminating the use of nails or bolts, and floored by 3-inch planking.
The bridge has been altered only to the extent required for maintenance and occasional replacement of the planking of the floor. It was retired from service in 1962 and has been preserved on its original site alongside a small county park.
North elevation (1972)
