Union Covered Bridge

Historic Covered Bridge Provides a Scenic Stop

Henry Ford I liked covered bridges so much that he bought a Pennsylvania covered bridge, transplanted it to his estate in Dearborn, Mich., and had a river dug beneath it. You don’t have to go to that much trouble to enjoy a covered bridge with its own real river. You can enjoy a restful stop at the union Covered Bridge about halfway on your trip to Hannibal.

The Union Covered Bridge is one of four still remaining in Missouri. It was restored in 1968 and is maintained by the state park system. The bridge is closed to cars and other vehicles, but it is perfectly safe for foot traffic. The Union bridge was completed in 1871, the last in Monroe County. In their book, “Covered Bridges of yesteryear in Monroe County,” Pauline Bryan and Annie Smithey write about the history of the Union Bridge.

“The bridge is 125 feet long, 17 feet 6 inches wide and is supported by strong abutments which extend into the road and served as the bridge approach. It utilizes the Burr-Arch type of truss construction, which includes a King-post truss with a strengthening arch bolted to it. Joseph E. Elliot, contractor of the bridge, doubled the Burr-Arch for additional strength. On April 8, 1870, the Monroe County Court ordered Union Covered Bridge to be built and awarded that contract to Elliot, a well-known builder who built four other Monroe County bridges.”

Most covered bridges were built between 1800 and 1875. They represented an evolutionary step in bridge building, between simple wooden spans and steel bridges. The Union Bridge was built using wooden pegs to join the planks. On a typical 100-foot (30-meter) bridge, more than 5,500 holes had to be bored for the two inch (five centimeter) pegs. You can see many of the pegs on the Union Bridge if you look closely.

Many builders passed their secrets along to their sons, thus creating a family identify as bridge builders. Theodore Burr was one of the most prominent pioneer bridge builders. He developed the Burr-Arch. Today, the family of Joseph of Elliot is in its fifth generation as bridge builders.

The Union Bridge is a popular gathering spot now, as it was in the 19th century. On a summer day, you’re likely to find swimmers, fishermen or someone relaxing with a six-pack. The bridge is just off U.S. 24 about five miles (eight kilometers) west of Paris. Turn right on Highway C, and you’ll see the bridge on your right about three miles (4.8 kilometers) down that road.

Source: Pg 5 of the Columbia Missourian on 19 Jun 1979 at http://newspapers.umsystem.edu/archive/.

 Graphics courtesy of Rhiossampler