Yesterday, on an afternoon errand trip with my son, we came upon this old covered bridge in Bucks County, Pa and stopped at the adjacent park for some quick fun. While there, we explored the creek, raced leaves over the dam and made a couple of photographs of the fall colors together. After we drove through the bridge on our way home, I began thinking about why these old bridges are covered? Was it purely an aesthetic/ cultural thing to the people who 1st settled here or was there some larger purpose in this mostly Northeastern practice?
Later, following some quick online research, I realized the answer of protection from the elements should have been obvious, but was obscured to me by my folly of looking for a deeper meaning. I went on to learn that the cover was not meant as protection for the travelers as I then assumed, but for the bridge support itself. Before our era of treated woods and modern materials, the heavy, beamed supporting structure and decking needed shelter to withstand the varied weather over the years and by doing so, the builder could extend the life of the bridge by decades. In covering the top, the underside, hidden support could be preserved from decay. Oddly, while this practice saved a valuable capital resource, it would also add an increase in other labor, as a tender would be necessary to now add snow to the inside in the winter to glide to sled's runners through.
While reading this morning, these simple facts lead me to think a bit about my life's shelter, support and guide and how I am both supported and sheltered by the same person and what a blessing it is to me that He is also the one who 'shovels the snow' to guide me and my family over and through the trials that confront us, much like a bridge and tender does.
In our area, there are still quite a few of these old, very cool bridges around to enjoy and as I am out and about in my travels I think I will view them just a little bit differently from now on.
