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Marion
County, West Virginia
(WGN
48-24-02) (WGCB WV-24-02) (1853; siding added 1873;
strengthened 1934 and 1951; rehabilitated 1999) A single-span multiple
Kingpost with Burr arch truss 145' 5" over Buffalo Creek. Located:
In Barrackville, West Virginia on bypassed section of Pine Street.
Directions: From Fairmont, West Virginia, take US 250 west to jct.
US 250 and CR 32. Make a right onto (CR 32) at covered bridge
road sign to Barrackville, West Virginia. Continue on CR 32, through
Barrackville, West Virginia to by passed bridge on the right. From
Farmington, West Virginia, take US 250 east to Barrackville Road, on the
left; follow 1.0 mile to the bridge, on the right (Barrackville Road becomes
Pine Street, CR 21). Built at a cost of $1,852. Originally
built without sidings, horizontal lapped siding was added in 1873.
In 1934, the bridge was strengthened by adding iron rods, tying the Burr
arch to the lower chord, and added to external walking and removing the
siding between the walkway and traffic lane. In 1951 steel was added
under the bridge to further strengthen it and it was rehabilitated in 1999.
On April 29, 1863 toward the end of the Civil War, the bridge was saved
from destruction by retreating Confederate soldiers by Bailes Ice, who
owned a grist mill and a saw mill near the bridge, when he provided
food to the soldiers and allowed them to rest on his property, in exchange
for not burning the bridge. It is the longest single-span authentic
covered bridge and second oldest remaining in West Virginia. It was
bypassed and closed to motor traffic in 1987. Owned by the
state. Also known as the Buffalo Creek Covered Bridge.
It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on March 30,
1973. (Oct 2005) |
