The greatest difficulty in plein air painting at Milton Covered Bridge is deciding from which viewpoint to paint. From any direction, any angle, the bridge is lovely. Built in 1876, the cool, dark interior smells of aged wood that is autographed with scribblings of others who have walked this same space. In existence since 1876, the bridge has known change, uprooting, and reconstruction and is a testament to heroic efforts to save this link to the past. Originally, the bridge was located on Cabell County 25 and served traffic over the Mud River. However, in 1985 the bridge was limited to pedestrian use only, and a new bridge was constructed upstream in 1991. At that point, the bridge was closed to pedestrians as well, apparently doomed to disuse and decay. However in that same year, the Orders Construction Co., Inc. of St. Albans was contracted to secure the structure until restoration was possible. The bridge was stabilized, moved, and stored. This decision no doubt saved the old bridge from impending destruction in the 1997 flooding. The plan was to reconstruct the bridge on the original supports of a former covered bridge on the James River and and Kanawha Turnpike’s original crossing of Mud River. However, that decision was not implemented. An alternate plan called for the bridge’s reconstruction over a pond at the site of Pumpkin Festival and Cabell County Fair. This location would offer more exposure to this unique link to West Virginia history. Countless people enjoy this lovely structure while maintenance would be assured in this new location...home at last.
Definitely on my “Going Back” list, this lovely piece of WV real estate deserves several visits by NanPerryArt.
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