2012
Donated By
Madison County
Antique Association
HOGBACK COVERED BRIDGE
BUILT: 1884
BY: BENTON JONES
TYPE: COVERED TIMBER TOWN LATTICE TRUSS
OVERLAID BY A QUEENPOST FRAME
SIZE: 100 FEET (98 FT TRUSS WITH TWO 62 FT APPROACHES) X 15 FEET WIDE
JONES WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE LAST ALL-TIMBER TRUSS BUILT IN
THE COUNTY KNOWN LOCALLY AS HOGBACK COVERED BRIDGE. THE
HOGBACK COVERED BRIDGE IS IN ITS ORIGINAL LOCATION. HOGBACK
GETS ITS NAME FROM THE LIMESTONE RIDGE WHICH FORMS THE WEST
END OF THE VALLEY. IT WAS RENOVATED IN 1992 AT A COST OF $118, 310
DURING THE 1870'S MADISON COUNTY CONTRACTED FOR A SERIES OF
TIMBER TRUSSES COVERED WITH ROOFS AND WALLS. IT IS NOT KNOWN
HOW MANY COVERED BRIDGES WERE BUILT IN IOWA BETWEEN 1850 AND
1900, BUT A CONSERVATIVE ESTIMATE WOULD BE A HUNDRED OR SO.
ALMOST ALL HAVE BEEN DESTROYED BY FLOODING, FIRE, COLLISIONS
OR DEMOLITION LEAVING ONLY A FEW REMAINING EXAMPLES