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Gallon House, Marion County

If you find errors in the data please contact Bill Caswell.

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Inventory Number: OR/37-24-01
County: Marion County
Township:
Town/Village: Silverton
Bridge Name: Gallon House
Crosses: Abiqua Creek
Truss type: Howe
Spans: 1
Length: 84'
Roadway Width:
Built: 1916
Builder:
When Lost: standing
Cause:
Latitude: N45 01.928
Longitude: W122 47.895
See a map of the area
Topographic map of the area
Directions: 1.3 miles north of jct OR213 on OR214, then 0.5 miles left on Hobart Rd. and 0.6 miles right on Gallon House Rd. NE (CR6900).

Gallon House Bridge, Silverton, OR Built 1916
Oregon Department of Transportation Photo

Gallon House Bridge, Silverton, Marion County, OR Built 1916
Bill Caswell Photo, June 2006

Gallon House Bridge, Silverton, Marion County, OR Built 1916
Oregon Department of Transportation Photo

Comments:
Cost $3000. Oldest Oregon covered bridge open to traffic. The Gallon House was the location where Silverton residents could purchase gallons of "white lightening" whiskey which was not allowed to be sold in town. During the Christmas Flood of 1964, the bridge suffered considerable damage and was repaired. In 1985, the old wooden structure was closed to all traffic when a damaged chord rendered it useless. County road crews repaired the bridge to accept traffic up to a 10-ton limit by reinforcing a lower chord, as well as making repairs to the beams and flooring. The renovation also included a change in the size and shape of the portals. The revamped portals were hinged to allow them to be opened for taller loads when necessary. In 1990, the bridge was rehabilitated and the hinged portals were removed.

Sources:
Nelson, Lee H.. A Century of Oregon Covered Bridges 1851-1952, 1960, pages 192-193
Cockrell, Nick & Bill. Roofs Over Rivers - A Guide to Oregon's Covered Bridges, 1978, page 77
National Society for the Preservation of Covered Bridges. World Guide to Covered Bridges, 2021, page 96

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