West Montrose Covered Bridge
| West Montrose Covered Bridge | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Coordinates | 43°35′08″N 80°28′53″W / 43.5855°N 80.4814°WCoordinates: 43°35′08″N 80°28′53″W / 43.5855°N 80.4814°W |
| Carries | vehicles |
| Crosses | Grand River |
| Locale | West Montrose, Ontario |
| Maintained by | Waterloo Region |
| Website | West Montrose Bridge |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | covered bridge |
| Material | concrete (piers), metal (truss), wood (sides, some beams) |
| Total length | 205 feet (62 m) |
| Width | 17 feet (5.2 m) |
| No. of spans | 2 |
| History | |
| Architect | John Bear |
| Construction start | 1880 |
| Construction end | 1881 |
| Construction cost | $3,197.50 (1881) |
| Inaugurated | 1881 |
| Opened | 1881 |
| Statistics | |
| Daily traffic | Minimal (3 tonne limit) |
West Montrose Covered Bridge, also known as the "Kissing Bridge", is a covered bridge in West Montrose, Ontario, within Waterloo Region, the last wooden covered bridge in Ontario and the oldest such bridge in Canada. Built in 1880–1881 mostly of oak and white pine by John Bear, who had previously built barns, the total cost to the Township of Woolwich was $3,197.50. The structure can still be used by pedestrians, buggy traffic and vehicles weighing less than three tonnes for crossing the Grand River. Since 1998, it has been owned and maintained by the Regional Municipality of Waterloo.
The bridge's original design was described as a "two-span hybrid Howe truss" or as a "hybrid Queen Post – Howe timber configuration" with two louvred windows. (Additional windows, visible today, were added at some later date.) The entire structure was originally built of wood. Its weight was supported by 15 piles driven deep into the river bed. At the time of construction, the estimated useful life of the structure was 70 to 80 years. That was significantly increased with subsequent restorations.
The primary modifications during restorations added concrete and steel parts to strengthen the aging structure. However, the current visible form of the bridge remains true to the original design.
The first records of this bridge include a call for tender in 1880 by John L. Wideman of nearby St. Jacobs, Ontario for a covered bridge to span the Grand River. The cost would be shared by the Ontario Ministry of Transportation and Communications and the township of Woolwich. The contract was given to the Bear Bros., John and Benjamin. Drawings and five pages of specs were completed by John Bear who indicated that hardwood was used throughout, although the rafters and the sheets over the sides would be made of pine. The wood was obtained from the nearby villages of Bridgeport, Blair and Doon. The opening date of the bridge was 15 November 1881 but it was not painted (with "residual oil and fire proof paint") until May of the following year.
Starting in the mid 1800s, this area of Waterloo County was settled primarily by Mennonite Germans from Pennsylvania. The horse and buggy was the primary transportation and in winter, the wheels were replaced with sleigh runners. This required the township to hire an individual to shovel snow onto the bridge roadway to avoid damage to the flooring. From 1885 until 1950, coal oil lamps were lit inside the bridge overnight; they were replaced by electric bulbs.
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