by Christine Lorraine Morgan ~ Aug. 29, 2023

Please enjoy this enlightening history regarding a historic thoroughfare in northwestern Pennsylvania, the Gudgeonville covered bridge.

“Built in 1837, it is one of the oldest covered bridges in the country,” explains http://pacoveredbridges.com/erie-county/

Considering there is no place named Gudgeonville anywhere in or near Erie County, local residents have wondered how the bridge got its name.

“In approximately 1855, a Kentucky man named Obadiah Will was delivering a mule named Gudgeon to Meadville. As they entered the bridge, a couple canal boats passed by playing a tune – My Old Kentucky Home. The mule dropped dead in its tracks. Mr. Will was given permission to bury the mule on the west bank of the creek and he had the word ‘Gudgeonville’ painted on the end of the bridge.”

After a fire in the 1860s, the bridge was rebuilt by William Sherman in 1868. It is said that its foundation could be remnants of the Erie Extension Canal (see photo). It isn’t covered anymore, but the bridge in use today was built upon the covered bridge’s original stone foundation (see photos). The bridge is located in Girard Township and crosses Elk Creek.

A wide view shows the bridge, Elk Creek and the Devil’s backbone area. This 1950 photo was taken by William James Nagy.

Hoping to attract visitors to the Erie area, an artistic postcard was created showing the Gudgeonville covered bridge in around 1970. The bridge’s original stone foundation is depicted clearly in this rendition.

In 2008 vandals committed arson by dousing the bridge with gasoline then setting it on fire. The bridge’s original foundation remained pretty much unscathed. Photo by Lori Garske.

Gudgeonville bridge today – It doesn’t have that air of historic mystique that many old covered bridges possess, but knowing the original foundation is still strong and useful offers some solace.

Before the Gudgeonville bridge was burned down, it had suffered from many bouts with people defacing it with spray paint. Photo credit: Unknown

Straight ahead view of Gudgeonville bridge. Regarding covered bridges in Erie County, PA, there are only two standing: one in Waterford that is in a state of dilapidation and not in use, and the other is in use on Barney Road in Albion ~ the Sherman Bridge.

Transcription: “GUDGEONVILLE COVERED BRIDGE Gudgeonville Covered Bridge, located in Girard Township directly west of Erie.”

Broad view of the present-day Gudgeonville Bridge.

Many have speculated that the Gudgeonville covered bridge’s foundation might be remnants of the Erie Extension Canal.