History of Burfordville Covered Bridge

History of Burfordville Covered Bridge. . , Burfordville Covered Bridge is the oldest covered bridge remaining in Missouri. Joseph Lansmon, its builder, began construction in 1858. It is uncertain whether the bridge was completed before or after the Civil War (1861-65). The bridge became a vital link in the toll road between Burfordville and Cape Girardeau. , Spanning the Whitewater River, the bridge is 140 feet in length, 14 feet in height, and 12 feet in width. It is constructed of native yellow poplar and uses Howe trusses for its means of support. The essential feature of the Howe truss was its use of metal verticals functioning as tension members and wooden diagonals functioning as compression members. It was in this manner that iron found its first structural use in bridge trusses. , The Builder , The Burfordville Covered Bridge is one of many contributions Joseph Lansmon made to the architectural history of southeastern Missouri. More than 100 years later, his buildings can still be found standing in and around the Cape Girardeau area. For more information on Joseph M. Lansmon, read: “A Lost Footprint in the Sands of Time” by K. J. H. Cochran; found in the Jackson Journal, May 10, 1967. , Historical Location , The Burfordville Covered Bridge is located across the Whitewater River in the present-day town of Burfordville. But the area developed long before Solomon Burford came to Missouri. The area around Bollinger Mill was at that time referred to as the Whitewater settlement. , This 1889 school district map shows the influence of the Burford name on the community, but not on the mill. The reason for this is that Burford sold the mill in 1880. Over the next several years, it changed hands frequently. When this map was made, the mill was owned by J. C. Clippard and J. L Hinkle. , Preservation 1967 , In 1967, the Missouri General Assembly passed an act declaring all remaining covered bridges in the state to be state historic sites and under the care of the state parks system. In 1970, Burfordville Covered Bridge was officially listed in the National Register of Historic Places. To ensure its continued preservation, as a part of Bollinger Mill State Historic Site, it is administered and maintained by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources' Division of State Parks. , The Burfordville Covered Bridge had extensive rehabilitation in 1984 and 1998. The bridge is normally open to pedestrian traffic only, however visitors are allowed to drive across on special occasions. , Construction , Signature , Though a modest man, Joseph Lansmon signed most of his structures. On this bridge, his initials and the date are carved on the southern corner of the east abutment. , Oak Keys , Devices referred to as “oak keys” are large wooden staples used for fastening wood timbers end to end. Four of these joined timbers are laminated together to form the lower members of the bridge trusses referred to as chords. , Visitor Quiz , Parts Identification , Before leaving, can you locate… , 1. Joseph Lansmon's initials and date 1858? , 2. The upper and lower chords? , 3. The iron vertical tension rods? , 4. The wooden diagonal compression members? , 5. The limestone abutments? , 6. The oak keys for splicing chord members? , 7. Plastic owls for discouraging pigeons from roosting? , [image captions] , . Historical Location - 1889 School District Map , . 1970 Bridge Photo , . Oak Keys , . Howe Truss System