Fisher School Bridge (Five Rivers Bridge)

A Lincoln County Covered Bridge

Fisher School Bridge has an alternative name, the Five Rivers Bridge. This bridge was given this name, due to the fact that it spans a fork of Five Rivers. It was given the Fisher School title, because of its location near the Fisher Elementary School, which is no longer standing.

This bridge was built in 1919 and is 72 feet long. It is speculated that the bridge may have been destroyed and rebuilt in 1927, but records show 1919 as the original date.

Fisher School Bridge

The bridge was built by George Melvin, a workman, and local farmers which helped in preparing the lumber. Fisher Bridge was built using Howe Trusses. This design was patented by William Howe in 1840 and combined iron uprights with wooden supports. The other architectural features are a shingled gabled roof, wooden decking, board and batten siding, and enclosing butresses.

Rehabilitation

In 1998, a consulting engineer working for the county determined the bridge was unsafe and recommended it be torn down, if not completely renovated. In 2001, with the assistance of the Oregon Department of Transportation, a federal grant was secured to pay for most of the renovation cost. The total project included new pilings, replacement floor beams, deck, stringers, siding and roof. The bridge was painted barn red, as is the tradition in Lincoln County.

The rehabilitation of the Fisher School Bridge by the Lincoln County Public Works Department – with a great deal of assistance and participation by local members of the Covered Bridge Society of Oregon – was recognized with a first place award in the category of Rehabilitated Bridges.

The county commissioners held a rededication ceremony for the bridge on June 4, 2005.

Fisher School Bridge, rehabilitated
[click image for larger view

Fisher School Bridge, sideview
[click image for larger view

DIRECTIONS: From Waldport drive east on Hwy 34. Turn south at milepost 20 onto Five Rivers Road. At milepost 9.4 turn east, onto Crab Creek Road. The bridge is located at milepost .01 Crab Creek Road.

Pre-Rehabilitation Photos (pre 1998)

[click image for larger view]

east side of bridge	back side of bridge
inside of bridge	detail of bridge siding
front of bridge	inside of bridge

All information on these pages are from the Oregon Coast History Center, and documented information from the Lincoln County Road Department. Please ask permission from the Historical Society, and the Road Department before using any of the pictures from this site.

Historical photos of other Lincoln County bridges
Location map for Covered Bridges (*pdf file)

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