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| The Elk Fork of the Salt River flows under the Union Covered Bridge. 10/15/2021 (dwm) |
When I heard there was a Union bridge in Missouri, I thought of the Civil War and that the bridge might represent local political opinions. The confederacy claimed Missouri as one of theirs, while the state officially remained loyal to the United States.
109,000 Missouri men fought in the blue colors of the Union forces; 30,000 wore confederate gray.
This bridge, built in 1871, wasn't named with the war in mind, instead it was named for the nearby Union Church.
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| The bridge was 120' long, 17'6" wide, and 12' high, tall enough for a wagon loaded hay. 10/15/21 dwm |
The bridge has been fixed several times, starting in 1968 after the state took control of it and three other bridges. The state salvaged pieces of the destroyed Mexico Covered Bridge to repair the Union.
In 1987 and 88, engineers inserted a steel arch truss to lift the bridge back to its original height which allowed joints and timbers to stand straight. Damaged and rotten timber was replaced and new siding replaced the warped outer cover.
The bridge served the public 99 years until an overloaded truck broke one support beam and damaged three others. It was closed to traffic immediately in April 1970.
In 2008, flood waters threatened to destroy the bridge. Concerned locals removed pieces of the lowest rows of siding to allow water to flow through the structure instead of battering the upstream side.
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| 10/15/2021 dwm photo |
Location: Paris, Missouri
Built: 1871
Length: 120 feet over the Elk Fork of Salt River
Style: the only surviving Burr Arch Truss in the state
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| Union Covered Bridge, Paris, Missouri. 10/15/2021 dwm photo |
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| 10/15/2021 dwm photo |
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