COVERED BRIDGES
Emotional Reflection, Craftsmanship, and the Charm of Simpler Times
Covered bridges aren’t just structures—they’re storytellers. For individuals in Maryland and DC, this reflection explores how these wooden spans evoke memory, community, and the enduring beauty of rural Americana.
I was raised in the Midwest where the countryside still had a few covered bridges, and the Chew Mail Pouch Tobacco signs were painted on many barns. Fields with fences also had these small signs on fence posts that, when read in order, were little ditties about Berma Shave. Only Nevada and Massachusetts missed the thrill of these signs. The company deemed the traffic in Nevada to be too sparse and the foliage in Massachusetts to be too heavy.
I recently learned that due to copyright laws you cannot put a Mail Pouch Barn in a painting unless you pay a royalty. Go figure. The farmer got his barn painted all over with the advertisement on as many sides as could be seen from the road. Most of the time, that meant one side. The farmer also got paid a whopping $1 a year for accepting the ad. That makes me wonder if current houses could be used for advertising. A Wheaties box could go on the front of your house, or how about a giant Band Aid!
Covered bridges were also wonderful places for advertising. Some were painted on the outside with signs like Coca-Cola or sometimes the bridge would carry the name of the town. Often the inside of the bridge would be plastered with local posters or advertising. Remember that people are riding through these bridges on buggies and horse-drawn wagons. There was no racing through in a Tesla.
The bridge itself had to be covered to extend its life. Since the building material was wood or logs, protection from the elements was necessary unless you wanted to rebuild that thing every couple of years. The survival of the covered bridge is quite remarkable. The oldest covered bridge in the United States was built in 1825 on a private estate. The bridge is now a part of Glimmerglass State Park in New York. You might want to put this on your bucket list. If you are a baseball fan and plan to visit Cooperstown, New York, then you will not be far off from the bridge. In fact, they are only 11 minutes apart according to Google Maps. And, by the way, buckets were also once made of wood.
I have fond memories of covered bridges. Roaming the countryside in Indiana, you were bound to come across one. Stopping in the middle to read the worn posters, carved initials, and other random things was always interesting. I hope they continue to survive.
Want to explore the history and preservation of covered bridges? Visit Historic Sites USA’s timeline of covered bridges, History Facts’ overview of why bridges were covered, and Discover Vintage America’s tribute to covered bridge nostalgia.
If you’re reflecting on memory, place, or the passage of time, therapy can help. Learn more about individual therapy in Maryland and DC or explore therapeutic approaches that support emotional insight and personal storytelling.
By Dr. Gloria K Vanderhorst
