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Cheat River Covered Bridge

Preston County, West Virginia
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Photo 

Historic postcard photo

Postcard submitted by Tom Hoffman

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Map 

Description 

Designed by famed bridge builder Louis Wernwag and built in 1835 for the Northwest Turnpike Company by Josiah Kidwell. On April 27, 1863 two thousand Confederate troops under the command of Gen. William Jones crossed the bridge, after which they removed the flooring out of one of the lanes. The wood flooring wasn't replaced until after the war. In 1932 a new 3-span steel bridge was started nearby and by 1934 the old bridge had closed to traffic. It stood as a West Virginia state relic until it was destroyed by fire on May 23, 1964.

Facts 

Overview
Lost Bridge over Cheat River on U.S. Route 50
Location
Preston County, West Virginia
Status
Destroyed by fire in 1964
History
Built in 1835 by Josiah Kidwell, bypassed by a new bridge in 1932, destroyed by fire in 1964.
Builders
- Josiah Kidwell (builder)
- Lewis Wernwag (designer)
Design
May have been a Wernwag Truss.
Dimensions
Total length: 339.0 ft.
Approximate latitude, longitude
+39.31944, -79.65664   (decimal degrees)
39°19'10" N, 79°39'24" W   (degrees°minutes'seconds")
Approximate UTM coordinates
17/615801/4353085 (zone/easting/northing)
USGS topographic map
Rowlesburg
Inventory number
BH 52704 (Bridgehunter.com ID)

Categories 

19th Century (3,851)
Built 1835 (7)
Built during 1830s (91)
Continuous (921)
Covered (927)
Destroyed by fire (52)
Josiah Kidwell (1)
 Lewis Wernwag (1)
Lost (10,496)
Lost 1964 (22)
Lost during 1960s (132)
Preston County, West Virginia (32)
Total length 250-500 feet (3,382)
West Virginia (982)

Update Log 

  • June 23, 2012: Added by Tony Dillon

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