Locust Creek Covered Bridge

The Locust Creek covered bridge is a couple of miles from my house, so I get to see it alot. As you can see this bridge appeares to have been moved, however it sits in the original location, as you probally read this bridge spans the Old channel of Locust Creek. Quite sometime ago the creek was channelized, this left the bridge over an oxbow lake or slough as it may be refered to. Over the years this "Lake" dried up and silted in. The bridge was left in at least 2' of mud. A couple of years ago the bridge was lifed about 6'. New approches were added and timbers were replaced as needed, giving new life to this wonderful piece of Local history! Anyway here are some more pictures of the Bridge.

Locust Creek Covered Bridge

Posted Monday, Dec 25,2006 by Paul D Prewitt (paul-rayma1[at]juno[dot]com)

I was born and grew up about half-way between Brookfield, Mo and Laclede, Mo. My son Galen posted a comment about the Locust Creek Covered Bridge on Sep 18, 2006. In addition to what I told him, my Mother & Father and my sister, brother, and myself went there sometimes to get in the water and/or fish. This was in the 1940's. The area has changed considerably around there now and the bridge crosses no water any more. Past consideration has been to move the bridge into Pershing State Park not far away.

In the early 1920's my Grandfather and his brother would walk 8 miles from where they lived in Meadville MO to Brookfield MO. Returning late from Brookfield they would often sleep under the protection of the bridge during inclement weather.

The bridge used to be on my Great Grandparent's land (William Columbus and Verna Marble Kehr of Meadville, Missouri.) They made a traded land with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources so the department could acquire the land where the bridge is located. My Grandparents, Owen and Lois Kehr and my Mother's Cousin, Ralph Kehr still live within walking distance of the bridge and I have spent a great deal of time down at the Locust Creek Bridge.