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Weddle or Devaney (original location), Linn County

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Inventory Number: OR/37-22-05
County: Linn County
Township: Scio
Town/Village: Thomas Station
Bridge Name: Weddle or Devaney (original location)
Crosses: Thomas Creek
Truss type: Howe
Spans: 1
Length: 120'
Roadway Width:
Built: 1937
Builder: Linn County
When Lost: 1987
Cause: Moved
Latitude: N44 41.431
Longitude: W122 56.283
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Comments:
8-panel truss. Per the Albany Democrat, July 13, 1888, "Notice to Contractor's. Notice is hereby given that at the next regular term of the County Commissioners Court for Linn county, Oregon, to be held at the Court House in the city of Albany on Wednesday the 8th day of August, 1888, sealed plans, specifications, strain, diagrams and bids will be received for building a bridge across the swale on the Shedd and Albany road about one half mile south of Kendalls bridge; said bridge to be 150 feet long and 16 feet wide. Also for the building of a covered bridge across Thomas Creek at the point where the old bridge known as the DeVaney bridge stood, said bridge to be 90 feet long between pier and bents, 14 feet [tall] and 16 feet wide in the clear inside. Ail bids must be filed with the Clerk on or before 1 o'clock, p. m. of the above mentioned day. The Court reserves the right to reject any and all bids. Done by order of the Court this 6th day of July, A. D. 1888. E. K. Montague, County Clerk." Apparently, the bridge was built earlier or the 1937 date refers to a later bridge. The 1937 bridge was bypassed and closed to traffic in 1980. The bridge quickly deteriorated and was considered a safety hazard. By 1987, Linn County planned to demolish the bridge sparking protests by local covered bridge enthusiasts. With the help of Senator Mae Yih, the state legislature created the Oregon Covered Bridge Program to help fund repair and maintenance projects. The Weddle Bridge was the first recipient of a grant under the new program. It was removed from its original location in October 1987 and rebuilt at Sankey Park in Sweet Home in 1989.

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