Cedar Covered Bridge

Cedar Bridge refers to three different bridges in Madison County, in the U.S. state of Iowa. The original Cedar Covered Bridge was built in 1883,^[4] moved in 1921, and was named to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. The bridge was filmed in the 1995 movie The Bridges of Madison County^[5] and destroyed by arson in 2002.^[6] The second covered Cedar Bridge was built in 2004.^[7] This second bridge was destroyed by arsonists in 2017. The bridge was again rebuilt in 2019.

Cedar Covered Bridge
Formerly listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places
The Cedar Covered Bridge in 2016
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Nearest city	1.5 miles (2.4 km) east of Winterset, Iowa
Coordinates	41°21′57″N 93°59′27″W
Area	less than one acre
Built	1883 1921 (moved)
Built by	H.P. Jones
Demolished	2002
NRHP reference No.	76000786[1]
Significant dates
Added to NRHP	August 28, 1976[2]
Removed from NRHP	October 18, 2002[3]

The original Cedar Covered Bridge

Cedar Covered Bridge was built in 1883 by Harvey P. Jones at a location north of Winterset over Cedar Creek which is now U.S. 169. It was 78 feet (24 m) long. The bridge was moved in 1921 to the current location over Cedar Creek.^[8] A picture of this bridge is on the cover of the novel The Bridges of Madison County.^[9] It was renovated in 1998.^[7][8] It was named to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.^[2]

This bridge was destroyed by arson on September 3, 2002.^[7][8][10] It was taken off the National Register of Historic Places on October 18, 2002.^[3]

New Cedar Covered Bridge

A replacement bridge was built to the same plans and specifications as the original and using authentic materials and techniques. It reopened during October, 2004.^[7][8] On April 15, 2017, the new bridge was again destroyed by fire.^[11] As of April 19, 2017, Joel Davis, 18, of Norwalk, and Alexander Hoff, 17, of West Des Moines, were both arrested and charged with first-degree arson. The 17-year-old will be tried as an adult.^[12] A third person, Alivia Marie Bergmann, 19, of Des Moines, was arrested and charged with second-degree arson in May 2017.^[13]

In April 2018, Joel Davis was sentenced to 5 years' probation, a $1,000 fine, court costs, and restitution for the burned bridge.^[14] Alexander Hoff received five years of probation and a suspended 10-year prison sentence. Alivia Bergmann pleaded guilty to second-degree arson and was sentenced to 5 years' probation and bridge restitution.^[15]

The city again rebuilt the bridge and reopened it during the annual "Covered Bridge Festival" in October 2019.^[16]

See also

• List of covered bridges in Madison County, Iowa

References

1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
2. "National Register of Historic Places Annual Listing of Historic Properties" (PDF). Federal Register. U.S. Government Printing Office. February 6, 1979. p. 7470. Retrieved March 20, 2012.
3. "Weekly List of Actions Taken on Properties: 10/14/02 through 10/18/02". National Park Service. October 25, 2002. Retrieved March 20, 2012.
4. Holden, Greg (January 1, 2009). The Booklover's Guide to the Midwest: A Literary Tour. Clerisy Press. ISBN 9781578603145.
5. Hellmann, Paul T. (November 1, 2004). Historical Gazetteer of the United States. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 9780203997000.
6. Whye, Mike (January 1, 2004). The Great Iowa Touring Book: 27 Spectacular Auto Tours. Big Earth Publishing. ISBN 9781931599351.
7. "Cedar Covered Bridge". cedarcoveredbridge.com. Retrieved March 20, 2012.
8. "The Bridges of Madison County". Madison County, Iowa. Madison County Chamber of Commerce. Archived from the original on March 30, 2012. Retrieved March 20, 2012.
9. Holden, Greg (2010). The Booklover's Guide to the Midwest: A Literary Tour. ISBN 9781578603145.
10. Hellmann, Paul T. (November 2004). Historical Gazetteer of the United States. ISBN 9780203997000.
11. Oleksinski, Johnny (April 16, 2017). "Famed Iowa bridge destroyed by fire". New York Post. Retrieved April 17, 2017.
12. "Teen arson suspect will be tried as an adult in Madison County bridge fire". Des Moines Register. Retrieved April 22, 2017.
13. "Third teen charged with arson in Cedar Bridge fire". Des Moines Register. Retrieved August 23, 2018.
14. "Probation for One of the Teens Who Set Cedar Bridge on Fire". Whotv.com. April 16, 2018. Retrieved August 23, 2018.
15. "Man gets probation in burning of iconic Cedar Bridge in Madison County, reports say". Des Moines Register. Retrieved August 23, 2018.
16. "Cedar Bridge Reopens". www.iowapublicradio.org. October 14, 2019. Retrieved May 3, 2020.

External links

Media related to Cedar Covered Bridge at Wikimedia Commons