Woodworking Iowa

Covered Bridges first appeared in the U.S. around 1805, but the history of these monuments to another age date back thousands of years to China. Covered bridges had also existed in Europe since medieval times and there were once hundreds of them in Switzerland, Austria and Germany.

But it’s here in the Northeastern U.S., where wooden covered bridge design and construction reached its pinnacle in the nineteenth century. A combination of pressing need, plentiful old growth northern forests, and sheer Yankee ingenuity, advanced the development of wooden covered bridges to a rare combination of marvelous engineering feats that were also pleasing to the eye.

WHY SO MANY COVERED BRIDGES IN THE NORTHEAST?

The northeast is a region of rivers, streams and creeks. As the population surged out away from coastal areas into the forested interior, villages sprung up near water sources. The water source was used to power mills in these towns, and villages often developed on both banks of a stream or river. Bridges were the obvious answer to connect these divided communities, and provide access for townsfolk to things like school, worship, and supplies.

But why cover them?

While much speculation has been put forth on this topic; the simple answer is protection against the weather for the bridge. Here in New England, where I live, covered wooden bridges last about three times as long as those exposed to the elements, and reduce bridge maintenance as well. During the 19th and early 20th century very few bridges built were not covered.

INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT COVERED BRIDGES…

Most historians agree the first covered bridge in America was The Permanent Bridge completed in 1805 in Pennsylvania, originally designed by Timothy Palmer from New England. The longest known covered bridge is The Hartland in New Brunswick, Canada, which at 1,282 feet spans the Saint John River.

But perhaps the most famous covered bridges are in Madison County, Iowa. The Bridges of Madison County used to number 19, but today only six survive. Robert James Waller’s novel, and the movie of the same name, popularized these bridges to millions worldwide, and also provided evidence that covered bridges in North America are by no means limited to the Northeast region.

A question often asked is why so many of the bridges are painted red on the outside?

Historians believe the red coating makes the bridge seem more like a barn to a horse, and as horses tended to be skittish about crossing above flowing water, the illusion helped farmers and travelers navigate the obstacle with little incident from their four-legged friends.

THE CHANGING FACE OF THE COVERED BRIDGE IN NORTH AMERICA

As the twentieth century progressed bridge construction changed and metal manufactured truss bridges became first choice over wood. The ease of construction, increased strength, and low cost of these metal bridges became too overwhelming to ignore for budget conscious communities in the U.S.

The “work horse” bridges of the 19th century gave way to economics, and most wooden covered bridges in the U.S. quickly disappeared, except for the 800 left for admirers to view today. Though many of the remaining covered bridges still carry traffic – even cars – most are kept and maintained for tourism, and as a reminder of our heritage.

VIEWING OF COVERED BRIDGES…

For sheer volume Pennsylvania and Vermont take honors, accounting for well over a third of the remaining bridges.

Self-guided tours are also popular in New England for covered bridge vacations, particularly in Vermont and New Hampshire where many of the bridges are close to other destination and attraction spots.

As a covered bridge enthusiast I can tell you half the fun is finding the bridges. The major highways bypassed the roads where most bridges are located many years ago, making the remoteness of a covered bridge sometimes an adventure in locating. While covered bridges make ideal photo opportunities there’s much more to view than just a pretty picture.

Experts suggest appreciating the bridge by first taking in the design and massive timbers used in the framework. For authentic bridges these timbers came from virgin forests where 100 feet high trees were common.

As you view an authentic covered bridge remember it was built for a simple functional purpose – getting from one bank to other. But it was constructed with the skill and care of craftsmen, who’ve unwittingly left a rich heritage for future generations to enjoy. Treasure these woodworking masterpieces as you travel rural North America, and rediscover a symbol of the pioneering spirit that embraced both U.S. and Canada during the nineteenth century.

About the Author:

For details on New England destinations and attractions and to grab your free valuable travel reports go to Cliff’s New England destinations site at: http://www.new-england-vacations-guide.com/

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Covered Bridges – Discovering A North American Living History

The term junk yard usually gives the impression of an area designated solely for the purpose of storing unwanted waste materials. However a junk yard is actually synonymous with a salvage yard which is established to store automobiles but also, more significantly, recycle inactive motor vehicles. The recycling of an old motor vehicle is related to the reuse of parts that are still in working condition and also the creation of scrap metals from the vehicles through a scrapping process. Hence a junk yard is more viable than most people would possibly realize.

If there were no junk yards, old automobiles would more often than not be placed in landfills, and when the environmental concerns are taken into account it is perhaps best that these junk yards fulfil this role instead. Junk yards are, as said before, able to store these vehicles for some time, but while still using the parts from these automobiles which encourages the very commendable practice of recycling. These old or relatively new parts can be bought by individuals for personal use, or they may be purchased by car manufacturers who will recondition the parts for resale.

Junk yards will typically employ people who are trained mechanics able to locate and salvage parts that are not being used but still very much functioning. The parts that may be salvaged include: outer parts like side mirrors, rear-view mirrors, lights, bumpers and major parts like the engine, the transmission, the radiator etc. Once these parts are taken from the vehicles they are then tested, in the case of more complex parts, to guarantee that they are indeed in good working order. Some junk yards may even be progressive enough to have showrooms or display areas where these parts may be viewed by hopeful customers.

Iowa, has many junk yards that may be visited when parts and/or scrap metals are needed. Many of these junk yards have listings that are available over the internet. To get the best deals, it is always preferable that any individuals in the market for these offerings shop around.

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