"Covered Bridge Model Donated to Historical Museum"       

 

Leola B. Pierce, founder of the Covered Bridge Society of Virginia, Inc., recently traveled a great distance, from Portsmouth, Virginia to Patrick

County, to dedicate a scale model of the Bob White Covered Bridge that is now on display at the Patrick County Historical Museum in Stuart. Mrs. Pierce was accompanied by her son and cofounder of the Covered Bridge Society, Steve Pierce, who serves as correspondent and photographer for the society.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Marty Wyatt, a carpenter from Missouri, constructed a very accurate representation of the Bob White Covered Bridge that spans the Smith River near Woolwine. Wyatt had previously made a Jack’s Creek Covered Bridge replica that was presented to Bassett Historical Center in March of this year.  Commissioned by Mrs. Pierce and the Covered Bridge Society, the Bob White Bridge was dedicated to Carol Lang, a Charter Member of the Covered Bridge Society, who now serves as its treasurer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Henry Ayers, President of the Patrick County Historical Society, accepted the bridge on behalf of the museum and expressed appreciation to  everyone involved with the donation. Izzy DeJesus, former president and current newsletter editor of the Covered Bridge Society who lives in Bassett, Virginia, also attended the dedication.

 

John Reynolds, Secretary of the Patrick County Historical Society, commented that the bridge was a welcome addition to the museum’s collection and one that he hoped would encourage preservation of other historic landmarks inPatrick County.ÿ Although undergoing some small repairs as a result of damage during shipping, Reynolds noted that the bridge is on display during the museum’s regular hours from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday.

 

The original, full-scale Bob White Covered Bridge extends 80 feet across the Smith River near Woolwine between Rt. 618 and the Smith River

Church of the Brethren. Walter Weaver designed and constructed the bridge, with help from his son Ed Weaver, in 1921. Along with the Jack?s Creek bridge a short distance away, Bob White is a prominent landmark in Patrick County, which boasts two of the eight remaining historic covered bridges in Virginia. These bridges are celebrated each year at the county?s "Covered Bridge Festival" now sponsored by Woolwine Ruritans and Woolwine Fire and Rescue Squads For information about the Covered Bridge Society of Virginia, contact Steve or Leola Pierce at vabridgelady@aol.com or write the Pierces at 4114 Forresthills Drive in Portsmouth, VA 23703. Phone contact is 757.848.4404.