Welcome to The Milton Covered Bridge
The Milton Covered Bridge is the only remaining Howe Truss Bridge in West Virginia.
Moving The Bridge
The original floor and tin roof are forever lost. It's wooden arches and trusses are rickety and weathered and the dark red paint on the steel support beams has slowly chiped away to reveal a thick coating of rust.
The disassembled bridge had sat along the James RIver Turnpike near the intersection of River Road and West Mud RIver Road since 1977. Before that it was used as a bypass over the Mud River near the middle school.
Original stone will be used as facing and as many of the original trusses as possible will be retained, because they have the most historic value. The trusses will be lifted by a crane and then be set into place.
Location
Directions
From I-64, East of Huntington take exit 28 (Milton) and turn south towards Milton, drive .3 miles to US route 60. Turn right onto US route 60 west and drive .4 miles to the first stoplight. Turn left onto Fair Ground Road and drive .7 miles to One Pumpkin Way. The Bridge is on the left.
History
Covered bridges take people back to a more relaxed and safe time. There's been a renewed interest in history, and bridges are a part of it. The D.O.H. has taken control of the state's 17 remaining bridges.
To Anita Dawson, Milton's covered bridge is her new crown jewel. Dawson, president of the West Virginia Pumpkin Festival Committee, was elated when the structure was moved about 1 mile to it's new home-Milton's 47 acre Pumpkin Festival Grounds.
Many believe that the bridge was built in 1876. "It's going to be the focal point of the Festival Grounds" said Dawson. "We spent several years of lobbying the Division of Highways to keep it in Milton because it was built here and it's so special to the community."
The Finished Result
The Milton Covered Bridge is finished after a year of planning, relocating and renovation work. The landmark that was all but left to rust and rot away several years ago has a new, bright red paint job and a home at the 47-acre Pumpkin Park.
$7,000.00 dollars has been obtained in grant money to drain and dredge the pond, put lime-stone rock around the shore and make it habitat friendly for catfish, small and largemouth bass and possibly rainbow trout.