Humpback Bridge
In terms of seniority, the venerable Humpback Bridge lays claim to being the oldest of Virginia's remaining covered bridges. Located in Alleghany County, just west of Covington, it was built in 1857. It was part of the James River & Kanawha Turnpike (JR&KT) and it succeeds three other bridges at the site. It stretches over Dunlap Creek, which is a tributary of the Jackson River that joins the Cowpasture River, near Iron Gate to form the James River. The first structure was built in the 1820s and was washed away by a flood on May 12, 1837. The second fell victim to the flood of July 13, 1842 and the third, as the annual report of the JR&KT company put it, "gave way" in 1856.
The 100-foot-long, single-span structure is four feet higher at its center than it is at either end, thus the name, "Humpback". Traffic across the bridge ceased in 1929 when it was replaced with a "modern" steel truss bridge. It stood derelict (and was even used by a nearby farmer to store hay) until 1954. That year, thanks to the fund-raising efforts of the Business and Professional Women's Club of Covington and the Covington Chamber of Commerce, it was restored and preserved as part of Alleghany County's history.
It can be reached from I-64 by taking exit 10 to Route 60 and traveling one-half mile east, or by taking Route 60 west from Covington.
To see bridges from all over the world, see none other than Louis La Vache!
You go, girl. Humpback is one of our FAVORITES. I used it for Sunday Bridges a while back, but I think your shot is prettier with the shadows. Check it out...
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Now, for today. Buddy and I are off to Panther Falls. Have not been there in years. Can’t wait. Then we will come back thru Goshen Pass and shoot the swinging bridge there. Gonna eat at the little cafe thingy in Goshen...it is under new management and is supposed to be pretty good. Wish you all were going to be with us. That would be such fun. Hope you have a great Sunday. School WILL be open tomorrow.
Amazing that it is still around! That's is quite old. Thanks for sharing the bridge with us.
ReplyDeleteI love those "covered" bridges, which we don't have in France. The Bridges of Madison County made them popular here. I saw the beautiful photos of GENIE too.
ReplyDeleteA wonderful bridge over NON-frozen water! Perfect for Louis la Vache's BRIDGE meme! Our lakes and rivers are rock hard frozen up here in Minnesota!
ReplyDeleteWarm regards from EAGAN daily photo
Now that is a covered bridge with history! How interesting that it arches. Super addition to Sunday Bridges.
ReplyDeleteCool! I love those covered bridges.
ReplyDeleteThat's a beautiful covered bridge with a scenic background.
ReplyDeleteI hardly see these type of bridges, being a city girl. Thanks for sharing this.
Update.....Panther Fall road was a thick sheet of ice so we opted for walking up on the B.R. Parkway there at Buena Vista. It was gorgeous. Then we went to Laurel Run and TRIED to go up in there, but it, too, was too icy. We did eat at Mill Creek Cafe in Goshen and it was fine. Hope you had a great day.
ReplyDeleteReally beautiful shot. Thanks for the info too.
ReplyDeleteGreat shot. We love covered bridges; there were many near where we lived in PA. Beautiful and interesting post.
ReplyDeleteDarryl and Ruth : )
What a fascinating post, Tanya!
ReplyDelete«Louis» was out all day Sunday and unable to visit those who contributed to Sunday Bridges. Belatedly, he thanks you for your contribution.
A hundred feet sure is a long span for a covered bridge! It sure is pretty with that curve!
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful bridge!
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