Zumbrota Covered Bridge 1932-1969

Zumbrota Covered Bridge 1932-1969. . A multi-purpose building at the Goodhue County Fairgrounds for 37 years, 1932-1969 , The fair board selected a site for the bridge on the north side of the fairgrounds next to the barns, and it housed poultry exhibits for several years. Starting in 1959, the Isaak Walton League filled the old bridge with wildlife exhibits and conservation programs. In 1960, the league planted evergreens next to the bridge. These remain at the fairgrounds., Windows and doors were put in place when the fair was done so that the space could be rented out for storage., The bridge served as the fair's beer garden for several years. It earned the nickname "The Longest Bar in Goodhue County". The bridge was also know as "the holiest floor" in Goodhue County, because bar patrons often dropped coins, and children enjoyed crawling under the bridge to scoop up the riches., 1934 , U.S. Department of Interior Undersecretary Harold Ickes recognized the bridge as "possessing exceptional historical and architectural interest and as being worthy of most careful preservation," which inspired ongoing efforts to maintain the aging structure., 1964 , The Covered Bridge Society was organized and began to actively promote the preservation of the bridge., 1965 , The City of Zumbrota purchased 40 acres of land on the south side of the Zumbro River for a community park., 1970 , Local contractors Howard Flaten and Don Ramstad were paid $2,000 to move the bridge a distance of one mile to its new home in the Covered Bridge Park.