Covered Bridges

We took a Saturday drive in Frederick County and looked up three covered bridges on the National Historical Registry.  They have in the past been shored up by more modern materials so vehicles could drive across them. They have all been vandalized, messed up by farm rigs, or eaten by termites, so all have been rebuilt with  as much of the original material as possible. One was even the victim of an insurance fraud scheme, where two brilliant fellows parked a truck in it and lit the truck on fire. They were caught. In order to qualify to be on the National Register of Historical Places, a certain amount of the original materials must be there. Repairs are often done with hand tools to maintain it's historical authenticity.

Utica Mills Covered Bridge

This bridge was part of the Devilbliss Covered Bridge built in 1843, that was destroyed in the Johnstown Flood in 1889. This piece of the bridge was moved to it's present spot over Fishing Creek.

Loys Station Covered Bridge

This bridge was built in 1848 and is ninety feet long. It is believed that on July 7, 1873, after the battle Gettysburg, General George Meade crossed this bridge while pursuing the Confederate Army.

Roddy Road Covered Bridge

This little bridge is only forty feet long and the smallest covered bridge in Maryland. It is also the only one with a single kingpost truss, used for smaller bridges. Date of construction not known, but believed to be around 1850.  It is common belief that Confederate  General Jeb Stuart and his cavalry crossed on July 5, 1863 during the Gettysburg Campaign of the Civil War. It is undergoing extensive repairs.