Bunker Hill Covered Bridge

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FAMILY
NAMES

LOFTIN:
 Beatty
 Corzine
 Cranford
 Fisher
 Givens
 Harwell
 Kaiser
 Lanier
 Lomax
 McCorkle
 Rudisill
 Sherrill
 Upright
 Washington
 Work

SETZER:
Aderholdt
Barringer
Bovey
Bushart
Deal
Heavner
Herman
Ikert
Miller
Motz
Rankin
Witherspoon

GOBLE:
Babst/Bobst
Douglas
Faber
Fink
Fulbright
Hefner
Meinhert
Miller
Muller
Pabst/Bobst
Robinson

JOHNSON:
Corzine
Fink
Hamilton
Kaiser
Leslie
Lewis
Moore
Sherrill
Upright
Wilkinson

Additional
Family
SURNAMES
 

 

Bunker Hill Covered Bridge   Hwy 70, Catawba County, NC 28609     In 1894, Catawba County Commissioners requested that the owners of Bunker Hill Farm build a bridge that would cross the former Native American trail at Lyle Creek.  The Bunker Hill Covered Bridge was built in 1895 by Andy L. Ramsour and is one of only two original covered bridges remaining in North Carolina.      The bridge was covered in 1900 but a tin roof replaced the wooden shingles in 1921.  The bridge was donated to the Catawba County Historical Association in 1985 and it was restored in 1994.  The bridge is currently part of Connors Park on Hwy 70, two miles east of Claremont in Catawba County, NC.   The 128 year old bridge on a beautiful autumn day in October of 2013       National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark BUNKER HILL COVERED BRIDGE   The only remaining example of the Improved Lattice Truss timber bridge patented by Gen. Herman Haupt (1817 - 1905) in 1839.  Haupt was chief of Military Railroads for The Union Army during the Civil War.  This Philadelphia born civil and military engineer, author, inventor, and industrialist was one of the first to develop a national method of truss analysis.  His 1851 boo, "General Theory of Bridge Construction," is one of the earliest American books on bridge engineering.   Constructed 1895 Restored in 1994 Designated in 2001     BUNKER HILL COVERED BRIDGE Across Lyle's Creek on Old Island Ford Road Erected 1894, Covered 1900 Given to Catawba County Historical Association By Raynelle B. and Claude S. Abernethy, Jr., and Ronda K. and Anna P. Bolick Restoered 1994       A closer view of the bridge       A view of Lyle Creek beneath the bridge - as well as the rock foundation   Unfortunately, graffiti covers the walls of most of the bridge     Road signs at Exit 138 on Interstate 40 make the bridge easy to find   There are also several signs at the entrance of Connor Park designating the location of the bridge         Connor Park     You must enter through Connor Park to access the covered bridge.  There is a stream that flows through the park as well as numerous picnic tables for family picnics.   Curtis Loftin stands on the bridge that crosses the stream in the park   Picnic tables along Lyle Creek in Connors Park   Curtis Loftin - October 2013     Sam Loftin Family & Friends Picnic- 1974   Sam Loftin was the son of Alonzo Lester Loftin and Ida Lillian Setzer and the husband of Willie Aleen Goble.  He was the paternal grandson of William Alexander Loftin and Laura Rossie Cranford and the maternal grandson of Patrick Sylvanus Setzer and Margaret Ann Elizabeth Witherspoon.   In the Fall of 1974, Curtis Loftin (Sam & Willie's son) was coming home from college (Appalachian State University) to visit with his family for the weekend.  Curtis was bringing some of his college friends along with him - Carolyn Weeks (who later became Mrs. Curtis Loftin), Bill Mitchell and Bill Shearin.  The family decided to do a picnic at Connor's Park and hike to the bridge.   Sam & Willie's oldest son Billy Ray (William Ray Loftin) & his wife (Diane) and four children (Beverly Billy, Eric & Crystal) were also there for the picnic - as well as Sam & Willie's neighbor (and Curtis' second "Mama"), Mrs. Flora Edwards Stewart - and a high school friend of Curtis', Joyce Killian.   In the 1970's there were grills at the park, so hamburgers and hotdogs were grilled right there on the sight.  After the food was cooked, everyone loaded up there plates and enjoyed the meal before the hike to the bridge.   Billy Ray with his wife Diane, Sam holding Eric Loftin and Curtis holding Crystal Loftin       Mrs. Stewart waits as everything is prepared       Bill Mitchell, Carolyn Weeks (Loftin), Curtis and Bill Shearin loading their plates   Carolyn, Curtis, Sam, Bill M. and Bill S.   (Left) Sam & Willie; (Right) Sam & Joyce Killian     Sam & Willie's oldest granddaughter, Beverly, enjoys the stream at the park   Bill M., Curtis, Bill S. and Carolyn get surprised for this photo as they head to the bridge   The Bunker Hill Covered Bridge from a post card at the time         SOURCES