Zumbrota Covered Bridge 23-25-01

This Bridge partially collapsed on 24 February when the Roof fell in under the pressure of the snowpack. This is not a surprise given the fact that Minnesota has already set an all-time record for the snowiest February ever. The Bridge will be rebuilt pending on how extensive the damage is. A summary is provided below:

https://bridgehunterschronicles.wordpress.com/2019/02/25/zum...

The Zumbrota was recently laser scanned - http://t.co/6EvpG99

Will, I had noticed this truss before and agree it is quite unusual. It appears to start out as a Lattice truss at the outermost panels, but by mid-span has morphed into something at least similar to a Smith truss. Not sure that SBC would have ever built something that didn't utilize their patented truss throughout the entire structure. My guess is that a local builder was experimenting with different truss elements in attempt to make a "better bridge".

However, the 1869 build date does correspond with the time frame that Smith was refining his truss design, so it is not a stretch to say that he might have been involved with this span. Would be neat if someone in that region could research county records for a possible answer.

Have a look at image 5 - This is not a Town Lattice. I can say that with absolute certainty. Until I someday do a site visit, and look behind the shelter panels at the trusses terminus, I can't be as certain of what it is as I am of what it isn't, but I believe it to be a Smith.

http://www.uvm.edu/coveredbridges/papers/reckard.html

Jolene--there is a "covered bridge" in Sturgeon Lake that carries Sturgeon Island Road onto Sturgeon Island on the east side of the lake, but it is not an historic covered bridge--it's a simple stringer or slab bridge with a roof and some walls added to it, although it somewhat looks historic from the outside. I can't seem to find it in the NBI, so I'm not sure when it was built, but the Google car has been over it, so you can pull it up on Google's Street View and have a look at it that way...The Zumbrota Covered Bridge is the only covered bridge in the state that is actually historic.

Looks like no Town Lattice I've been in, but it does look like it may have been built in Toledo.

I have been by this bridge!!! One of the few covered bridges in MN:) very nicely preserved!! supposedly there is one in sturgeon lake(carlton county)for which I am still hunting to take a few photo's to post here. Hope I find it!!!