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Dix River, Garrard County

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Inventory Number: KY/17-40-01x / KY-69-01x
County: Garrard County / Lincoln County
Township:
Town/Village:
Bridge Name: Dix River
Crosses: Dix River
Truss type:
Spans: 1
Length: 110'
Roadway Width:
Built: 1844
Builder:
When Lost: 1863
Cause: Burned during Civil War
Latitude: N37 36.16
Longitude: W084 38.09
See a map of the area
Topographic map of the area
Directions: Old Danville Road.

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Comments:
Horizontal siding. Abutments exist. Per The Kentucky Tribune (Danville), November 23, 1855, "To Bridge Builders. - PROPOSALS for the construction of the Masonry and Wood work of a BRIDGE across Dix River, on the Danville, Dix River and Lancaster Turnpike road, will be received in Danville, from this time until December the 7th, 1855. Proposals to be directed to undersigned, or to J. P. the MITCHELL, Esq., Engineer of the road, by whom the plan of the masonry will be exhibited. JOHN ENGLEMAN, Pres't." This information may challenge the 1844 construction date originally thought to apply. Per The Jessamine Journal (Nicholasville), July 7, 1905, "A REAL HEROINE.- Mary Rankin, fourteen-year-old girl living three miles west of Lancaster, has proved herself quite a heroine. The covered bridge, spanning Dix river near the Rankin homestead, was set on fire by the passing of a traction engine. Miss Rankin, discovering the fire, drove rapidly In her buggy through the burning structure and rallied a crowd, two miles distant, at the village of Hubble. By the united effort of this rallied corps the flames were quickly extinguished." Per The Advocate-Messenger (Danville), January 9, 1941, "At the border of Garrard and Lincoln counties, ten miles from Danville and five from Lancaster on the old Danville-Lancaster Turnpike stands this covered bridge over the Dix River. The bridge, which is ninety feet long and eighteen feet wide, was built about a hundred years ago by Lewis Wernwag, who used poplar timbers fastened with wooden pegs and iron bolts. The abutments are of stone, which was quarried in a nearby field. There are no piers. The flooring is arched in the center. The roof is tin but was formerly shingle."

Sources:
The Kentucky Tribune (Danville), November 23, 1855, p.3.
Ky's Past Covered Bridges. 2005, http://csimelissa.smugmug.com/gallery/943528/1/46871733/Large (07 Jan 2006)
Database of Kentucky covered bridges compiled by Robert W. M. Laughlin

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