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Home My WebLink About1932-1951 - When Coal was King - Allentown Covered BridgeVVA�y�/��| Nb1��|y�(��/\||�0fOyy� /�Oy8�� %��_ 1�� WHEN COAL WAS '� _ ._ Covered �_�~. �___ By8iiiKornboL Voice of the Valley ]uiy22,2024 Thia.phwmovmUo,.SG0Q0_C70_B,idge87G0?datedJv"o.0?7G)8.bv]O�.8[um.comoe.covrteeyutho.0ng/CovmvA,chive umith.coknhzationby. DougvBoo mo^.8umham?aTahoma.phmojnatmcm,doing.buainoaa.aam"wwiboo memphotographBcomi Covered bridges were once common throughout the United States, but more prevalent in the Midwest and New England. America's first covered bridge crossed the Schuylkill River at Philadelphia in 1806. At their peak, there may have been 14,000 throughout the country, but today only about 700 survive in 29 states. Pennsylvania has the most —2O8bridges in34nfits G7counties. |nWashington state only five authentic covered bridges remain. The Allentown Bridge crossing over railroad tracks as seen in this 1932 photo by Thomas P. Blum isn't one of them. It burned tothe ground in185O. Roofs were typically designed to protect wooden bridges from constant exposure to sun, snow, and rain. Without a cover toprotect the structure awooden bridge might last only 2Oyears. But bycovering abridge its life can ba extended to a century or more. Washington State had fewer covered bridges than most likely because our climate doesn't typically see large snow accumulations. Plus, with our massive forest resources rebuilding a wooden bridge was less expensive. As steel and reinforced concrete began replacing wood in bridge construction, the need for covers collapsed. The Allentown Covered Bridge was erected circa 1SO3when the Union Pacif icRailroad built itauacrossing for wagons and the few gas -powered vehicles then present. It was also called the Steel Hill Bridge and was located where South 1291h Street now crosses over both Interstate 5 and the tracks of Burlington Northern and Union Pacific railroads. The original bridge was 120 feet long, but the roof covered less than half of that. The bridge floor was constructed of 8" x 18" floor beams overlain by diagonal 5" planking. The interior dimensions were 16 feet wide and 13feet high. During the 1920s, as many as 200 trains operated by Northern Pacific, Union Pacific, and Pacific Coast Railroads passed under the bridge each day. Most ofthem were steam engines fired bycoal. The soot and clinkers that spewed from the locomotive's smokestack presented a danger to motorists and the wood planking. Several times fires broke out from sparks belched from the smokestacks, oointhe early days, the bridge had water barrels to fight potential blazes. Today's overpass, also known as the Archie Codiga Bridge, is 930 feet in Length. AtiUo\Arohim'Codiga(1OOG' 952) was a Swiss-ItaLian immigrant farmer who started a dairy farm along the Duwamish River in 1908. Hiufieiduvvhmrm cows once roamed are now rail yards and distribution centers sandwiched between Boeing Field to the north and the Foster Golf Links to the south. Yet a forested 6.5-acre patch of green called Codiga Park still occupies the east bank of the river. The neighborhoods of Allentown and Duwamish were annexed into Tukwila in 1989. The enclave was named for Joseph Allen, a British settler who arrived in the Pacific Northwest in 1879 and purchased, then subdivided the land. The Duwamish tribe of Native Americans traditionally lived along the Duwamish River and related waters of the Cedar and Green Rivers. The Duwamish River is called the Green River upstream of Tukwila. Duvvanniahnneanu "people of the inside" referring to the area around Seattle's Elliot Bay and Lake Washington. Next week, more about the Allentown Covered Bridge and what it looked like in 1951. VVA��J/��| Nb1��|�J��||�0fOyy� /�Oy8�� %r��_ 1��1 WHEN __�_ WAS '� _ ._ Covered �_—� DvBill Kornboi Voice ofthe Valley July 29,2O24 ^ Thiajnnago.bv.Albort.Fanow.comoazmvrteeyutoAnno]Matsvmv,a?an]ssaqvoh]himorian.and.coKocmnPhmozmlohzationmmuzerfnnned. ovoougvBoo me^.8umhom?aTahoma.phmojnatrucm,doin81maineaa.aam^wmboomemphwmA,ophBcom What comes to mind when you picture a covered bridge? Many people imagine an idyllic scene, perhaps based on a favorite artist's depiction or as reference in a book or film. Few have difficulty visualizing a "classic" covered bridge. There's mcertain romance connected tothem. Perhaps, it's their association with idyllic scenes in simpter times of horse-drawn buggies and autumn leaves. Or maybe it's the thrill of crossing over a river within a tunnel, not seeing the flowing waters below.Orcovered bridges might call to mind the film, "The Bridges of Madison County," a romantic drama starring Clint Eastwood and Meryl Streepbased onthe popular book byRobert James Walter. |twas one ofthe bestselling novels ofthe 20mcentury with sates ofover 50 million copies. Yet, these structures have a visual appeal that has generally outlived their utility. Despite their allure, Washington State didn't have many covered bridges and only five remain, one each in Clark, Grays Harbor, Ktickitat, Pierce, and VVahkiakurnCounties. But from 1903 to 1958, the Allentown Covered Bridge carried passenger vehicles over two sets nfrail lines. Tho12O'foot'iong.Hnvve'truaabridgevvaabuibbythonaiiroadandburnedtothmgrnundinMay 1958. It was only a stone's throw from the Duwamish River and was also known as the Steel HiLL Bridge. Today its replacement, the South 12 91h Street Bridges crosses both 1-5 and the Burlington Northern and Union Pacific Railroads. The overpass, also known as the Archie Codiga Bridge, is 930 feet in length. |tiuthe primary gateway to Allentown, an area named after Joseph Allen who subdivided his original homestead in 1907. Duwamish is a sister neighborhood to the north, but both are now part of Tukwila following a 1989 annexation into the city. Native Americans of the Duwamish Tribe Lived here first and made their homes along the Black and DuvvarniuhRivers. The word'Tukwita'is the Chinook Jargon for nuts, referring to the forests of hazelnut trees that grew inthe area. Just 200 feet west of the South 12 91h Street Bridge at 501h Place South sits Codiga Park. Named for AtiUo'Archie' Codiga (1886-1952), a SwitzerLa nd -born immigrant farmer, the 6.5-acre park has 10 parking staLLs, picnic tables, and awalking path with river access. It's a former dairy farm with a partially restored tidal wetLand that provides a faded glimpse of what the Duwamish River once might have Looked Like. This 1951 photo features Pacific Coast Railroad Engine No. 16, a coaL-fired locomotive putting a short train of empty cars and traveling eastbound as it passes below the Allentown Bridge. During the heyday nfrailroading in the 1920s, as many as 200 trains traveled under this span each day. The Allentown crossing had a reputation as the most accident-prone bridge in King County, perhaps owing to its narrow width and Lack of Lighting inside.