The Ritner Creek Covered Bridge is the third bridge to be captured in my covered bridge series. Carl and I stopped off at this bridge for a few quick photos. It was very tempting to drive past the barricades and park our bikes on the bridge. We didn’t. Instead we kept riding for the next covered bridge on the list.
The sign on the bridge reads: “Ritner creek bridge, one of the covered bridges remaining in Oregon west of the Cascades, almost became a memory in 1974. Declared structurally unsafe, it was scheduled for removal. The children of Pedee School along with the citizens in the Pedee area rallied to it’s support with a ‘Save Our Bridge’ campaign. The county commissioners met with the state highway department and as a result the issue was placed on the ballot May 28, 1974. The measure passed and the covered bridge was moved to an adjacent site. The new bridge on Highway 223 parallels it.
Ritner Creek Bridge was named for a pioneer, Sebastian Ritner who arrived in Oregon in 1845. Some of his descendants still live in this area.
The bridge was built in 1926 by Hammer and Curry Contractors at a cost of $6,963.78. Relocation of the bridge cost the taxpayers $26,031 in 1975-75. An additional $533.08 has been spent on a mini-park, which is located next to the bridge. Another park, Ritner Creek County Park is located a few miles upstream.”
