Tuesday, September 22, 2026

1893 Meems Bottom Covered Bridge over North Fork Shenandoah River near Mt. Jackson, VA

(Archived Bridge Hunter; Bridge Hunter; Satellite)

"Built 1893; Damaged by Arson 1976; Restored 1979" [ArchivedBridgeHunter]

Street View, Jun 2024

It appears that there are big steel girders under the  bridge. And note the concrete pier beside the stone abutment at the far end that actually holds the bridge.
2019 Photo by Evan Stone via BridgeHunter

John Forbes, Jun 2025

Mark Haines, Apr 2026

Michael Quartararo posted 13 photos with the comment:
Meems Covered Bridge 
Mt. Jackson, Virginia
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" It was constructed after a flood to replace earlier bridges that had been swept away in 1870 and 1877....On Halloween 1976, it was set on fire by arsonist Clyde Meadows....Using salvaged timbers from the original structure, the bridge was reconstructed in 1979 and reinforced with steel beams and concrete piers at a cost of $250,000....However, in October 1982, inspections uncovered a crack in the Burr arch and several areas of rot in the heart-pine wood, leading to the immediate closure of the bridge. 3 It’s believed the truss and arch absorbed moisture while left exposed for three years after the fire. During restoration, the application of a sticky, fire-retardant substance trapped this moisture, causing fungus to grow and decay the wood." [B&T]

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