JUDAH COVERED BRIDGE

from M. L. Davies collection

Pictures Info.

The Judah Covered Bridge, also known as the Lost or Judy Covered Bridge, is no longer standing … it crossed a branch of Salt Creek in Section 34, Township 8 North, and Range 1 East, Monroe County. This Burr Arch Truss structure had a length of 120 feet and was built in 1884 by The Kennedy Brothers.

David A. Judah noted in the July 1965 Indiana Covered Bridge Society Newsletter noted that his grandfather lived on the north bank of the stream and built a gristmill about 200 yards downstream from where the Judah Covered Bridge would eventually be located. In this publication David remembered, "the abutments were of native stone quarried or dug from the steep hillside on the south side of the stream. They were rolled or dragged to the site and cut as needed. A spelling hammer was used to break off the excess stone and then a stonecutter with mallet and chisel finished the work. The top stones on these piers, or 'buttments' as folks called them, were a lot larger than the others. The arches supporting the weight of the bridge and its load rested on these heavy stones. Heavy timbers spaced six to eight feet apart and at right angles with the structure held the long, white oak stringers. The flooring was also of white oak, the vertical siding of poplar, and the roof of regular wood shingles." He also noted, "In extremely cold weather [their] hogs and those of the neighbors would come to sleep in the bridge. To keep warm, they would pile together and often the smaller ones would be crowded through the sides and fall into the water or on the ice."

Because of its remote location and eventual abandonment, the Judah Covered Bridge became generally known as the Lost Covered Bridge and was listed as #14-53-09 in the World Guide (according to G. Gould's 1977 list) and torn down during the winter and spring of 1947.

• Covered Bridge Project Resources

• Regarding Covered Bridge Designations