Wolf Run Studio - Covered Bridges

Bill Harrah
Wolf Run Studio
P.O. Box 444
Clifton VA 20124

Phone:
(703) 250-6711
Fax:
(703) 764-9204

 

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. . . COVERED BRIDGES . . . (Click on an image to see the actual notecard size)
Philippi Bridge
Tygart River, West Virginia

#NC-03130-CB - Notecards
Also available in Assortment Packs #AST-304 and #AST-3WV
#PR-03130-CB - Open Edition Print
Also included in unmatted Print Set #PST-304

The most famous of the remaining West Virginia covered bridges is the one in Philippi. At the time of its construction in 1852, the Philippi Covered Bridge was the largest covered bridge ever built. Designed by Lemuel Chenoweth of Beverly, the 285-foot bridge is considered an engineering masterpiece.

During the Civil War, Union and Confederate Generals recognized the strategic importance of this bridge located on the north-south Staunton-Parkersburg Turnpike and its proximity to the B&O Railroad junction at Grafton. On June 3, 1861, Colonel B.F. Kelley's Union troops led a surprise early morning attack on Confederate troops commanded by Colonel G.A. Porterfield. Equipped with firearms but little ammunition, the Confederates had no choice but to retreat. Union troops took command of the bridge and used it as a barracks. The short battle strengthened the Union position in western Virginia and discouraged secessionist movement.

In 1989 the bridge suffered severe damage caused by fire and a two-year historical restoration project was begun by local preservationists. Under the direction of bridge historian and WVU professor Emory Kemp, the bridge was restored to its Civil War appearance, except for the 1934 reinforced concrete deck and the addition of lighting, sprinklers and smoke detectors. The historic Philippi Covered Bridge was reopened to traffic on September 16, 1991.

Today the bridge, on US Route 250 at Philippi, is recognized as a National Historical Landmark and is the nation's only two-lane covered bridge still serving a federal highway.

Text © 1999 Dianne Harrah, Drawing © 1999 Bill Harrah

    View matted print

    #PR-03130-CB
    Open Edition Print
    Image: 7” x 8.75”
    Mat: 11” x 14”
    $25.00

COVERED BRIDGE SELECTIONS:
Humpback Bridge    Meem's Bottom Bridge    Philippi Bridge    Staats Mill Bridge   
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Drawings Copyright © 1992-2010 Bill Harrah, Wolf Run Studio (SM), All Rights Reserved. Wolf Run Studio is a service mark of Bill Harrah and has been in continuous use since 1992. All of the images on this website are in tangible form and are fully copyrighted. Each has an invisible digital identification which is traceable through the Digimarc Corporation. Viewers of the Wolf Run Studio website are allowed to browse and print out images for personal, non-commercial use only. You may not distribute copies of images or image files to anyone else for any reason. Images may not be reproduced or used in any form or any manner, or displayed on any website without the express written consent of Bill Harrah.

Text Copyright © 1992-2008 Terry White or Dianne Harrah. Text on this website is used with permission from the authors. Viewers of the Wolf Run Studio website are allowed to browse and print out text for personal, non-commercial use only. Text may not be reproduced or used in any form or any manner without the express written consent of the authors.

Information Accuracy
The information for the written description of each location has been carefully researched by the authors and is believed to be accurate. New findings, however, could make some information out-of-date. If you are a professional historian, archaeologist, or architect, and have new information that you are willing to share, please contact Dianne Harrah .