Weddle Bridge

{{short description|Covered bridge in Oregon, US}}

{{Use American English|date=February 2025}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}

{{Infobox NRHP

| name = Weddle Bridge

| nrhp_type =

| image = Weddle Bridge.jpg

| caption = Weddle Covered Bridge

|location= Sweet Home, Oregon, United States

| coordinates = {{coord|44|23|35|N|122|43|39|W|region:US_type:landmark|format=dms|display=inline,title}}

| locmapin = Oregon#USA

|map_caption=Location of the bridge in Linn County, Oregon

| built = 1937 (1990)

| architecture = Howe truss

| added = November 29, 1979{{cite web|url=http://www.nps.gov/history/nr/listings/Weekly_List_FR-Tuesday-March-18-1980-listingyear1979.pdf|title=Annual Listing of Historic Properties|work=National Register of Historic Places|publisher=National Park Service|date=March 18, 1980|accessdate=July 1, 2011}}

| delisted = January 11, 1989{{cite web|url=http://www.nps.gov/history/nr/listings/Weekly_Register_List_1989.pdf|title=Weekly List of Listed Properties|work=National Register of Historic Places|publisher=National Park Service|date=January 19, 1989|accessdate=July 1, 2011}}

| area =

| mpsub = {{NRHP url|64000700|title=Oregon Covered Bridges TR}}

| refnum = 79002114{{cite web | title=Oregon National Register List | date=November 10, 2005| url= http://www.occma.org/portals/64/Departments/Community%20Development/oregon_nr_list.pdf|page=23|publisher=Oregon City County Management Association|accessdate=March 28, 2016}}

}}

The Weddle Bridge is a {{convert|120|ft|m|adj=on}} long wooden covered bridge in Sweet Home, Oregon, United States.{{cite web|title=Ames Creek (Weddle) Covered Bridge|url=http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/HWY/BRIDGE/docs/covbrdg/Descriptions/Weddle.pdf|publisher=Oregon Department of Transportation|accessdate=March 28, 2016}} The bridge originally spanned Thomas Creek near Scio but was replaced by a concrete bridge in 1980 and was scheduled to be destroyed in 1987. To save the bridge, local activists staged protests and persuaded former Oregon Senator Mae Yih to help save the bridge. The Oregon Legislative Assembly soon approved the Oregon Covered Bridge Program, which helped pay for covered bridge rehabilitation projects statewide. The Weddle Bridge was the first to receive grants from the program.

In 1989, using grant funds as well as funds from local residents, a Sweet Home group called the Cascade Forest Resource Center rebuilt the Weddle Bridge across Ames Creek in Sankey Park.{{cite news|last=Lair|first=Patrick|title=Weddle Bridge Closes|url=http://www.democratherald.com/news/local/article_e2946031-2426-5a5d-8670-0ca9121fb277.html|work=Albany Democrat–Herald|date=September 28, 2005|accessdate=March 28, 2016}} Also assisting in the project were the Covered Bridge Society of Oregon, which raised additional funds, and the Jordan Bridge Company, which had built the Jordan Bridge in Stayton.

The bridge was temporarily closed in 2005 after an engineering inspection determined that repairs were necessary. Proceeds from the Oregon Jamboree country music festival and donations of cash or building materials from several businesses and individuals made the repairs possible.{{cite news|last=Lair|first=Patrick|title=Plans in Place for Weddle Bridge|date=October 5, 2006|url=http://www.democratherald.com/news/local/article_3655c7f4-40fe-5fe9-8af6-8f8cfd5319b7.html|work=Albany Democrat–Herald|accessdate=March 28, 2016}} The bridge has been used for public events such as fundraisers for breast-cancer detection and related services or for private events such as weddings.{{cite news|title=Walk for the Cause Planned in Sweet Home|url=http://www.democratherald.com/news/local/article_c5e3c422-bf74-11df-b29c-001cc4c002e0.html|work=Albany Democrat–Herald|date=September 13, 2010|accessdate=March 28, 2016}}

The original bridge over Thomas Creek was named for a farmer who lived nearby, but it was also known as the Devaney Bridge for another early resident. Similar in design to other covered bridges along Thomas Creek, the Weddle Bridge featured a Howe truss, segmented portal arches, large side openings, and white board-and-batten siding.{{cite book|author1=Smith, Dwight A.|author2=Norman, James B.| author-link2=James B. Norman | author3=Dykman, Pieter T.|title=Historic Highway Bridges of Oregon|publisher=Oregon Historical Society Press|location=Portland|edition=2nd|year=1989|orig-year=1986|pages=190–91|isbn=0-87595-205-4}}