History of the Oldest Covered Bridges in West Virginia

Philippi

• According to the National Register Focus website, the oldest West Virginia covered bridge, Philippi covered bridge, is in Barbour County. It was built by Lemuel Chenoweth in 1852 on the Staunton-Parkersburg turnpike after the Virginia General Assembly authorized the building of a Beverly to Fairmont Turnpike. (At that time, West Virginia was not a state; it was part of Virginia.)

  The bridge has two lanes and is 285 feet long. According to its state historical marker, Civil War armies crossed this bridge; Union troops used it as barracks during the first land battle of the Civil War---the Battle of Philippi, June 3, 1861. In 1934, the structure was strengthened to carry US Route 250. Four years later it received a concrete floor.

  In 1989, fire damaged the bridge. In 1991, the bridge was reopened, restored to both its original condition and appearance. The City of Philippi uses the bridge as part of its city seal.

Barrackville

• A second bridge authorized for the Beverly to Fairmont Turnpike resulted in the Barrackville covered bridge, another Eli and Lemuel Chenoweth structure. Built in 1853, it is West Virginia's second oldest covered bridge; it is located in Marion County. The bridge is 146 feet, 3 inches long and was permanently bypassed in 1991.

  According to the History of Barracksville page, during the April 29, 1863 Jones Raid, Gen. Jones was going to burn the bridge but spared it.

  Around 20 years after construction, the bridge received protective sidings. In 1934, a sidewalk was constructed.

Carrollton

• According to the National Register of Historic Places, this bridge was built in 1856 by Beverly contractors, Daniel and Emmett J. O'Brien and cost $4,819. It is the second of two covered bridges in Barbour County.

  At 140 feet, 9 inches long, it is the second longest covered bridge in West Virginia and uses the Burr Arch truss structure. The bridge was modernized in 1962, with a concrete deck and additional supports added in 1963.

Locust Creek

• Little is known about Locust Creek Bridge, save that it was built by R. N. Bruce in the 1870s. It is 113 feet, 9 inches long; with steel girders for support, it is otherwise original. The date of construction was based on a petition of that approximate time to build a bridge near the Josiah Beard Mill.

  According to the West Virginia DOT website, the bridge was renovated in 1904. It received new paint and a new floor in 1968 and was turned into a pedestrian-only bridge in 2002. It is West Virginia's most remote bridge, and the only remaining covered bridge in Pocohontas County.

Mud River

• Milton, West Virginia developed along with the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway. The bridge was finished in late 1875 or early 1876; it was used to help move goods to and from the railroad depot.

  In 1891, $110 of repairs were authorized by Cabell County; the Mud River bridge was moved to Pumpkin Park in 2002.