Bennetts Mill Bridge - Greenup, KY - Covered Bridges on Waymarking.com

Built in 1855 to service mill customers, the bridge spans Tygarts Creek. At 155 feet, this is one of Kentucky's longest single-span covered bridges; original footings and frame intact. Closed to traffic.

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Just to the north of the bridge, alongside the creek at an obvious flat area, is where the mill stood. Timbers from a dam that helped power the mill can still be seen in the creek at this location (as of 2004). Behind the house adjacent to the bridge is a mound that is the site of an old foundry. Mr. Bennett built the bridge in 1855 when he realized that half of his business was on the other side of the creek.
In October 2003 it was announced that the bridge would be rebuilt historic in appearance, but with only 15% of its original wood. Upon re-assembly in 2004 the bridge was raised two feet.

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In the late 1700s, Kentuckians began to build covered bridges across their rivers and creeks. Some were the work of nationally-known bridge architect Lewis Wernwag. The bridges were covered to keep their main timbers dry and protected from the elements.

The longest wooden covered bridge in the world was once in Kentucky. The Butler Station Bridge was located in Pendleton County, 7.5 miles north of Falmouth in Butler over the Licking River. 456 feet in length, the bridge consisted of three spans 152 feet each. Built in 1871 for $18,450, it was severely damaged by winds and flood waters in 1937 and torn down.

During the Civil War, many of Kentucky's covered bridges were burned by both Union and Confederate troops. More were lost in the 1900s, victims to modern replacement, arson, and neglect. A statewide program to repair and preserve Kentucky's covered bridges wasn't begun until 1996. All of Kentucky's remaining covered bridges are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

There is probably one additional surviving covered bridge in Kentucky. At the bottom of Herrington Lake near the Boyle-Garrard County Line lies the King's Mill Covered Bridge, which was covered by the man-made lake as it was built in 1925. Since the bridge (and mill) are completely immersed in fresh water, it is likely that this 175-foot span remains intact.

For more information about covered bridges in Kentucky, see Covered Bridges: Focus on Kentucky by Vernon White (Berea, Ky. 1985), or Kentucky Covered Wooden Bridges and Water-Powered Mills by Robert A. Powell (Lexington, Ky. 1984). In March, 2003, Dr. Patton said that after 38 years, the Kentucky Covered Bridge Association was going to disband.

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Current Condition of Bridge: Rebuilt. New wood. No traffic. Description of Covered Bridge: A 155-foot Wheeler truss bridge, the only example still standing. Year Built: 1855 Parking (If not at the bridge):: No parking. There is room on the side of the road to pull off just past the bridge. Location (Road - City - State - Country): East side of SR 7, Greenup, KY - USA Web Address: Not listed

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Date Logged Log User Rating   06/21/2010 jimnade visited it 10/30/2008 Wallyum visited it 08/11/2008 BS & SIR visited it 04/26/2008 kf8nl visited it 04/06/2007 BluegrassCache visited it 04/09/2004 pinkbison visited it

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