140 year old covered bridge, burned by vandals

woodstock said:
I am originally from near-Erie PA. A little bit of history was destroyed by fire (arson) over the weekend. Arson is a crime, is it worse if it's a historical "building"? I hope they catch the little bastards.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gudgeonville_Covered_Bridge

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Burned_Gudgeonville_Covered_Bridge.jpg
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That stinks!

There were problems with that around here a few years ago. Several covered bridges burned (Remember the movie, Bridges of Madison County?). They've equipped some of them with pretty sophisticated sensors to monitor for fires.

http://www.ctre.iastate.edu/PUBS/en_route/05summer/madison_county.htm


Trapper John
 
That is interesting to me as I was born a short distance from that location. I was born in Sherman, N.Y. which is about 35 miles from Erie,PA. The builders name was Sherman, I wonder if there is a connection there. There is still the old Bement barn at the end of Bement Road in Sherman. That is a shame that vandals think they need to do this kind of damage. So sad. Bob
 
woodstock said:
I am originally from near-Erie PA. A little bit of history was destroyed by fire (arson) over the weekend. Arson is a crime, is it worse if it's a historical "building"? I hope they catch the little bastards.
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I didn't know that Elizabeth. Dreary Erie, the mistake on the lake! Yeah I know, it gets old. My ex wife went to Allegheny College so I had to go up to Meadville one time. Also, spent some times in Jamestown, NY whihc is not that far away. Great hot wings.

PA has a great history of covered bridges. Being form suburban Philly I know of many in Chester, Bucks and Lancaster counties. I hope they get caught also.
 
Anthony said:
I didn't know that Elizabeth. Dreary Erie, the mistake on the lake! Yeah I know, it gets old.
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Anthony, I have NEVER heard that before! That's funny! ho ho ho.





:rolleyes2:

PA does have a lot of beautiful bridges - it's a shame the history isn't respected. :incazzato:

Bob, let me guess, you went skiing at Peek and Peak while you were growing up?

John, I really hope they rebuild this bridge and then actually protect it. Did they rebuild any of the bridges burnt in Madison County?
 
Anthony said:
Dreary Erie, the mistake on the lake!
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Wait a minute! I always thought Cleveland was the mistake on the lake... :D

I share the sentiment about catching and stringing up the vandals. I love old Americana roadside history - whether it be covered bridges or tee-pee hotels.

The covered bridge was a nifty way to solve the problem of icy bridges....
 
wsuffa said:
Wait a minute! I always thought Cleveland was the mistake on the lake... :D

I share the sentiment about catching and stringing up the vandals. I love old Americana roadside history - whether it be covered bridges or tee-pee hotels.

The covered bridge was a nifty way to solve the problem of icy bridges....
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I always thought it was so the horses couldn't see the height above the water (or stream bed) and, therefore, wouldn't be afraid to cross the bridge. But, you're most likely right - because all we see today are signs that say, "Bridge ices before road."
W8-13.gif


:D
 
BaltimoreBill said:
The covered bridge was a nifty way to solve the problem of icy bridges....
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I always thought it was so the horses couldn't see the height above the water (or stream bed) and, therefore, wouldn't be afraid to cross the bridge.
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Actually, it's more basic than that. Wood left outdoors and exposed to rain rots. On a covered bridge, the roof is basically a sacrificial element to protect the load-bearing structure. It's cheaper (and easier) replacing a roof than the bridge timbers.

Ron Wanttaja
 
Ahh that does stink! We lost one of the first mills that Edison himself electrified in my hometown thanks to kids playing in the building with candles/matches.

I always hate to hear about history being lost.
 
Elizabeth, I went swimming in Lake Erie at my aunts house over by Dunkirk. I also used to go over to chatauqua Lake where my grandmother worked for a doctor. My brother and I would sled ride down the hill in the winter right toward the lake.
A friend of mine sent me a picture of a covered bridge one time. This bridge is in Bradford, N.H. and is called the Bement Covered Bridge. I goggled it and there are some pictures. I don't know the story I wish I did.
 
CapeCodJay said:
Ahh that does stink! We lost one of the first mills that Edison himself electrified in my hometown thanks to kids playing in the building with candles/matches.

I always hate to hear about history being lost.
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That is how I felt when I got the news that the Lodge at Big Creek,ID. burned down at the end of Oct. this year. Built in 1932 a lot of history went up in smoke. Bob
 
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