Jack’s Creek Covered Bridge

Jack’s Creek Covered Bridge, Woolwine, Virginia

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Jack’s Creek Covered Bridge

Patrick County in South Western Virginia is home to two covered bridges.  The older of the two is Jack’s Creek Covered Bridge.  This Queenpost Truss design bridge was constructed in 1914 to serve Jack’s Creek Primitive Baptist Church.  The bridge, which is named after the church, actually crosses Smith Creek.  Jack’s Creek Bridge is sometimes referred to as the Upper Covered Bridge.

This 48-foot single span bridge was designed by Walter G. Weaver who lived in the nearby town of Woolwine.  Construction, though, was by Charles Vaughn, the low bidder who came from Buffalo Ridge, another close-by town.  A third man, Peter Brammer, had the job of providing the roof for the bridge as he was the only person in the area who had the right tools to crimp the tin used for the roof at the time.

Jack’s Creek Covered Bridge, Woolwine, Virginia

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There are some unusual features to this bridge.  The siding is of vertical board-and-board rather than the more usual board-and-batten.  This construction provided a much sturdier result.  There is also a horizontal water deflector running the full length of the structure about 8-inches from the bottom.  This helped protect the bottom edges of the siding as well as the underneath of the floor.  The inside of the bridge is sheathed with diagonal boards covering the trusses making the trusses invisible.  This internal sheathing may have provided additional protection for the trusses but it made it difficult to inspect and determine if repairs were necessary.

Jack’s Creek Covered Bridge, Woolwine, Virginia

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The bridge was bypassed by a steel-beam bridge in 1932.  It was abandoned by the state when the new structure was built.  It was known to be used as a barn prior to be taken over by the Ruritan Club, a service club located in small towns and rural areas  which began in Southwestern Virginia, who then undertook to maintain the bridge.  The Jack’s Creek Covered Bridge was widened and received a new roof in 1969, followed by a full restoration by the Virginia Department of Highways in 1974, at a cost of approximately $4,550.00.  The county continues to maintain it.

It was recorded with the Virginia Historic Landmarks Commission and placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.

Find more covered bridges in Virginia here.

Summary

Article Name

Jack’s Creek Covered Bridge

Description

Jack’s Creek Covered Bridge is a Queenpost Truss bridge build in 1914 to serve Jack’s Creek Primitive Baptist Church after which it is named

Author

Mark Summerfield

Publisher Name

Mark Summerfield

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