Art works of historic covered bridges and mills; narrated video; e-mail [email protected]

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COVERED BRIDGES
To some romantics and nostalgic dreamers covered bridges and mills must hold some enchantment for biographical and fiction books have been written about them such as "The Covered Bridge" and "The Mill on the Floss" and there are many art works of the scenic places surrounding them trying to capture a part of the past. I have been drawn to these scenic places for many years and enjoy doing paintings and drawings of them and have accumulated a large collection of which I continue to add to.
Back in the days when wood was plentiful bridges were covered in an attempt to prevent timber rot and were shelters from sudden storms. Other claims were to keep heavy snow from blocking passages, a bridge looked like a barn and this would keep away the fear of animals crossing,and horses passing through wouldn't bolt, because they couldn't see the rushing water below.
For courting couples they were "kissing bridges" and for children they were "wishing bridges".
Fire and vandalism was some of the destroyers of covered bridges and there seemed to be no protection from this.
Advertising posters were often displayed on the interiors and were protected from the elements and they remained for many years.
Signs prohibiting smoking and fast speeds were often displayed.
As early as the fourteenth century Swiss and German carpenters devised simple trusses for timber covered bridges. Most bridges at that time were of stone. Existing covered bridges today have various types of trusses.
Timothy Palmer of Massachusetts was the builder of the first American covered bridge. A three span 550-foot structure across the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia was constructed in 1805.
Jonathan Walcott from Connecticut constructed a mile-long bridge crossing the Susquehanna River at Columbia, Pennsylvania. 28 spans including 5,690 feet expanded and connected the shores of this river.
New England comes to mind when one mentions covered bridges but Pennsylvania probably leads the states in number of bridges in use with Ohio next and we cannot leave out Indiana's Parke County which still holds its annual covered bridge festival in the fall and at one time included 39 covered bridges.
According to a census done in 1954 there were still over 1700 covered bridges in America that were in use. According to the revised 1980 edition of World Guide to Covered Bridges by the National Society for the Preservation of Covered Bridges, Inc. edited by Richard t. Donovan, a total of 893 authentic covered bridges and 630 non-authentic covered bridges, which would be a total of 1523, are listed. This edition lists 302 foreign covered bridges standing and 203 Canadian covered bridges standing; and lists the Ponte de Berne bridge in Fribourg Switzerland as early as 1275-1895.
Many covered bridges took the names of nearby mills. Farmers needed access to the mills and therefore grist mills and covered bridges became closely associated.
WATERMILLS AND WINDMILLS
Approaching a scenic watermill through a covered bridge surounded and closed in by colorful fall trees and flowing brooks and streams weaving under, over and around with the warm suns rays filtering through and sparkling in various open spots is very soothing and uplifting to the soul. With our daily modern technology, which keeps us on a fast moving merry-go-round, still fresh in mind this is like taking a giant step back into the past.
Various designed watermills and windmills have been used for centuries to generate power and process grains into powdery substances such as flour and cornmeal etc. and windmills in the Netherlands were used to keep the water flowing out.
Folklore and tales such as the little girl who hid her Easter eggs in the mill wheel only to have them disrupted by an adventurous brother who liked to spin the wheel not knowing of his sisters hiding places for the eggs, have been passed on for generations.
Early windmills were in use in Persia in the 10th century and maybe even the 7th century. Their beginnings seem to be uncertain. The Persian design of sails revolving on a vertical axis and the wind directed onto the sails through slots in a wall surrounding the windmill was transmitted to China, by 1200 A.D. and the Chinese discarded the wall and improved windmill operation by using sails that feathered. This type was used mainly to lift water for irrigation.
In 1847 a group of Dutch settlers set up the community of Holland, Michigan and have kept many Old World customs and traditions alive and there are probably more windmills per square mile than any place in America.