Michigan Covered Bridges - Fallasburg

Fallasburg Covered Bridge             4/28/2018  dwm photo

It's a working bridge.  One of three Michigan covered bridges still open to traffic.

The Fallas brothers, John and Silas, settled east of current day Grand Rapids in 1837 and built a chair factory.  The town followed, but it never boomed the way they imagined.

This is the second bridge on the location.  The first, built around 1840 is said to have been destroyed by ice jams and flooding.

Built in 1871, concrete anchors were built in 1905 with more repair in 1945 and 1994.

The Brown Truss uses "X" shapes
for strength.  (dwm)

The day of my visit a number of anglers were dropping a line into the old mill stream on a sunny Saturday morning.

It was peaceful.  Except for a bunch of modern vehicles in the parking lot, it might have been 1919.  The bridge blends in well with the landscape along the Flat River.

We drove over and walked the bridge during our visit.  Taking the slow trip across is an experience for the several senses - sight, smell, and sound.

After living as a temporary Hoosier for eight years, I came to appreciate covered bridges dotting the landscape.

A sign over the bridge portal warns of a $5 fine for riding or
driving over the bridge faster than a walk.
4/28/2018  dwm photo

 Michigan has more than most with six.  The scarcity makes them special.  Fallasburg didn't last long as a thriving community, but the bridge makes it a scenic area for commuters willing to exchange a long drive for a bucolic setting.

John and Silas would not recognize much of their town today.  I'm sure they would love that their bridge still stands.

Fallasburg Bridge Facts
Built:  1871
Style: Josiah Brown Truss
Length: 100 feet over the Flat River

See more covered bridges by following the link.