| World Guide
Numbers (WGN) are listed, when known. WGN assigned numbers are coded,
such as 46-03-01. The first two numbers are the assigned State number
in alphabetical order. The second two numbers represent the county
number, also in alphabetical order. The third pair of characters
or numbers is the bridge number. All non authentic bridges, as well as a few authentic bridges, are numbered with an alpha character in lieu of the last two digits, i.e., 45-08-B (Vermont's New Village
non authentic Stringer Covered Bridge).
World Guide
Covered Bridge (WGCB) numbers have been assigned by the National
Society for the Preservation of Covered Bridges (NSPCB) are
referenced for all listed bridges. Assigned numbers are coded, such
as NH-05-12 or VT-115-a. The first two characters are the postal
abbreviations for the state (formerly digits starting at 01 represented
the state in alphabetical order). The second two digits represents
the county in alphabetical order starting at 01 for each state. The
third pair of characters represents the bridges place in the NSPCB tally
of that county's bridges, starting at 01 for authentic truss type bridges
or a letter for non-authentic type bridges, an upper case letter for motor
vehicle bridges, and a lower case letter for footbridges. Additionally, bridges that have a leading "(" before the last letter, are considered O.C.B.I. - "Of Covered Bridge Interest" - a Covered Bridge that is
under 12' or is just on the ground and not over anything, i.e., 45-12-(b.
West Virginia
- General information. The state once had hundreds of covered bridges
along its early turnpike systems and villages. This number had dwindled
to eighty-nine by 1947, and by 1957, only fifty-eight remained. In
the mid-1980s, there were only seventeen historic covered bridges remaining.
The Civil War and the devastating flood of 1888 took a huge toll on the
covered bridges followed by mid-twenieth century when many were replaced
with larger and stronger concrete and steel bridges. Fortunately,
spectacular Philippi Bridge has survived. The only "double-barreled"
covered bridge remaining in the southeastern states.
Of the twenty-five
covered bridges in West Virginia, seventeen are authentic and eight are
non authentic modern stringer type bridges. These 25 bridges were
constructed between 1852 and 2002 in eighteen of West Virginia's fifty-five
counties. West Virginia's seventeen authentic covered bridges comprise
a diversity of truss types, including Howe with Burr Arch, Kingpost, multiple
Kingpost, multiple Kingpost with Burr Arch, Long, Long with Burr Arch,
Queenpost, Queenpost/Long combination and double Warren.
West Virginia's
Historic covered bridges were built between 1852 and 1911. All are
fairly easy to locate.
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