Covered Bridge Project
How did you ever come
up with the idea for a covered bridge at "Rhododendron Meadow"? is a
question being asked more and more as people begin to realize just how special
such an undertaking is. Well, to get the answer to this question, you need to
start at the very beginning when "Rhododendron Meadow" was saved from
a proposed condominium development. More about the
history.
So just how did we come up with this idea for the
"Rhododendron Meadow Covered Bridge" project? Well, like the pioneers
who came before us who built these covered bridges to cut down on maintenance
costs of the bridge planking, we are also doing it for this very same reason,
plus a whole lot more, which includes creating something that will be left
behind for future generations who will follow in our footsteps.
At "Rhododendron Meadow", spanning Henry Creek, was
a bridge that had been constructed by a former property owner for a proposed
housing development, that allowed access to a ten-acre parcel. This bridge was
made out of a truck trailer from a semi that rests on steel I-beams, with the
span's decking being wood planks. All of this is resting on two existing
concrete footings from a former bridge. This bridge was built without the
required Clackamas County permit.
The Cascade
Geographic Society wants to save this bridge over Henry Creek. Our plan is
to turn it into a covered bridge, which would enable us to maintain the planking
on the span's deck inexpensively. The existing bridge is important to have
because it allows pedestrian access across Henry Creek. Access is a must because
we are restoring this acreage due to the damage to habitat and resources caused
by a previous property owner. Without the bridge, volunteers doing the work
would have to "ford" the stream, which would obviously be dangerous
and inconvenient. The other reason to maintain a bridge in this location is for
fire protection. Access is also a must to the ten acres, in case of
wildfire.
The
"Rhododendron Meadow Covered Bridge" will be the first covered
bridge built on Mount Hood in over a hundred years. The approximate size will be
25 feet wide by 30 feet long. It would be constructed out of wood timbers and
1" x 12" cedar boards, and a roof constructed out of cedar shakes.
The Navy Reserve's
SeaBe's will actually do the construction on the "Rhodendron Meadow
Covered Bridge". With their talent and willingness to take on something
this different, the end result should not only be spectacular, but will look as
if it was constructed with the craftsmanship of a bygone time, of handtools and
ingenuity.
At this time it looks as if students from a school in
Portland, Oregon, will provide the engineering for this unique span. Larry
Wilson's engineering students at Grant High School will be providing the
drawings needed for this first covered bridge on Mount Hood in over a hundred
years.
Everyone who works on this project will have their name
associated with the history of this bridge. A plaque that will be located on the
inside of the "Rhododendron Meadow Covered Bridge" will identify all
of those involved in making this mere vision a reality.
The new
"Rhododendron Meadow Covered Bridge" will serve more than just a
covered bridge. It will also be an interpretive site where people can come to
learn about the fish and wildlife resources, the botany, the Oregon Trail (which
a segment goes through), and about the Native Americans who used
"Rhododendron Meadow". In addition, the information will feature the
restoration work that has been done on restoring the acreage.
Cascade Geographic Society is creating a new historical
landmark by bringing the "Rhododendron Meadow Covered Bridge" into
reality. And, to do so, there is plenty of work to do on this first covered
bridge project on Mount Hood in over a hundred years.
Volunteers are needed in a variety of capacities for the
"Rhododendron Meadow Covered Bridge" project. Needed, for example, are
people to do site plans, architectural renderings, grant writing, fund-raising,
historical research, and a whole lot more.
Volunteers are the "lifeblood" to the Cascade
Geographic Society and our projects. If you would like to assist us in the
"Rhododendron Meadow Covered Bridge", the first covered bridge on
Mount Hood in over a hundred years, please get in touch with us at (503)
622-4798.
1. "Rhododendron Meadow Covered Bridge" will need a
permit from Clackamas County. The Cascade Geographic Society has already begun
this process.
2. Clackamas County is concerned with the weight of the
bridge on the steel I-beams and the semi trailer bed of the existing span. The
Cascade Geographic Society feels that this concern will be eliminated if the
main footings of the "Rhododendron Meadow Covered Bridge", which would
be concrete, are located beyond the bridge on dry ground. The County seems to
agree.
3. The existing bridge is utilizing steel I-beams that cross
Henry Creek to give extra support to the bed of the semi-trailer, but is one shy
on the upstream side of the span, which concerns Clackamas County. We are
proposing to add another beam to correct this.
4. The Cascade Geographic Society needs to secure funding for
the construction of the "Rhododendron Meadow Covered Bridge", which
will be through grants. However, until we have a materials list that would
identify just what size beams and other materials are needed for the project, we
can't even start this process. This information would come from the engineering
work.