Bob White Covered Bridge
Encyclopedia
The Bob White Covered Bridge, also known as the Lower Covered Bridge or Woolwine Covered Bridge, is a county owned wooden covered bridge
that spans the Smith River
in Patrick County, Virginia
, United States
. It is located on the old portion of Bob White Road (SR 869) off State Route 8
southeast of the community of Woolwine
, about 13 miles (21 kilometers) north of Stuart
. Coordinates are 36°46′44.82"N 80°14′51.26"W (36.779117, -80.247572).
Built in 1921, the 80-foot (24-meter) bridge is a Queen-post truss construction over two spans. Its WGCB
number is 46-68-01. The Bob White Covered Bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
on May 22, 1973. It is one of two historic covered bridges remaining in Patrick County, maintained by the Patrick County government.
s that inhabit the area. It served as an access route to the Smith River Church of the Brethren, located on the south side of the river. The bridge was bypassed to the west with a concrete bridge in 1981. Although closed to motor traffic, the Bob White Covered Bridge still attracts numerous visitors. The bridge is the site of annual horse-drawn wagon rides as part of the Patrick County Covered Bridge Festival which is held every June.
Covered bridge
A covered bridge is a bridge with enclosed sides and a roof, often accommodating only a single lane of traffic. Most covered bridges are wooden; some newer ones are concrete or metal with glass sides...
that spans the Smith River
Smith River (Virginia)
The Smith River is a river in the U.S. states of Virginia and North Carolina. It is a tributary of the Dan River, which it joins at Eden, North Carolina...
in Patrick County, Virginia
Patrick County, Virginia
Patrick County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2010, the population was 18,490. Its county seat is Stuart. It is located within both the rolling hills and valleys of the Piedmont Region of Virginia and mountainous Southwest Virginia....
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is located on the old portion of Bob White Road (SR 869) off State Route 8
Virginia State Route 8
Virginia State Route 8 is a primary state highway in the U.S. state of Virginia. The state highway runs from the North Carolina state line near Palmetto, where the highway continues south as North Carolina Highway 8 , north to U.S. Route 11 in Christiansburg...
southeast of the community of Woolwine
Woolwine, Virginia
Woolwine is an unincorporated community in northern Patrick County, Virginia, United States. The western terminus of State Route 40 is here, at State Route 8. The community lies in the Rocky Knob American Viticultural Area...
, about 13 miles (21 kilometers) north of Stuart
Stuart, Virginia
Stuart is a town in Patrick County, Virginia, United States, and its county seat. The population was 961 at the 2000 census. Due to recent boundary expansion, the town of Stuart has an estimated population of nearly 1,700 residents. The town of Stuart was named after Confederate Gen. J.E.B...
. Coordinates are 36°46′44.82"N 80°14′51.26"W (36.779117, -80.247572).
Built in 1921, the 80-foot (24-meter) bridge is a Queen-post truss construction over two spans. Its WGCB
World Guide to Covered Bridges
The World Guide to Covered Bridges is a covered bridge numbering system. The system was invented by John Diehl, the chairman of the Ohio Covered Bridge Committee. The committee first used the numbering system in 1953 to publish a list of covered bridges in Ohio....
number is 46-68-01. The Bob White Covered Bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
on May 22, 1973. It is one of two historic covered bridges remaining in Patrick County, maintained by the Patrick County government.
History
The Bob White Covered Bridge was constructed by Walter G. Weaver of Woolwine, named for the former Bob White Post Office which in turn was named after the bobwhite quailBobwhite Quail
The Northern Bobwhite, Virginia Quail or Bobwhite Quail is a ground-dwelling bird native to the United States, Mexico, and the Caribbean...
s that inhabit the area. It served as an access route to the Smith River Church of the Brethren, located on the south side of the river. The bridge was bypassed to the west with a concrete bridge in 1981. Although closed to motor traffic, the Bob White Covered Bridge still attracts numerous visitors. The bridge is the site of annual horse-drawn wagon rides as part of the Patrick County Covered Bridge Festival which is held every June.