LAWRENCE L. KNOEBEL BRIDGE • BY: LINDA SONES
With special thanks to David Kline (Benton News), the Knoebel Family, and the Columbia County Historical & Genealogical Society
The story behind the Lawrence L. Knoebel Covered Bridge is pretty interesting. Some readers may not be aware that its story doesn’t start at Knoebels Amusement Resort where it resides today. The history before it made its way to the park was a bit hard to find. Here is what I have found in my research. In a previous life, I was the secretary for the Columbia County Covered Bridge Association. As a result of this, I have a small collection of local bridge history. Part of this collection is an email from David Kline, Editor and Publisher of the Benton News, to Bob Parks, former secretary of the Columbia County Covered Bridge Association. Mr. Kline stated that the L.L. Knoebel bridge was built over West Creek on the west side of Benton along present-day SR239. It was built in 1881 by J.J. McHenry at a cost of $348.00. The bridge connected West Creek Road with SR239 and formed a “T” next to the home of Leonard Cole, formerly the John R. Cole farm. Because of the bridge’s location, it was identified as the John R. Cole Covered Bridge. Mr. Kline continued and said that in 1936, the state decided to straighten out SR239 at this junction which meant the covered bridge would be bypassed and later removed. Mr. Hartman H. Knoebel heard of the bridge’s demise and in 1937, before the bridge was scrapped, bought the bridge for $40. Hartman and Lawrence L. Knoebel, the owners of Knoebels Amusement Resort at the time, dismantled the bridge in 1938 and took it to their amusement park 30 miles south on SR487. It took them less than one week to rebuild their newly acquired bridge and it was reconstructed just as it had been over West Creek right down to its wide boards, wooden shingles, and no paint.
The Lawrence L. Knoebel Covered Bridge circa 1936 or early 1937. The bridge spanned West Creek outside of Benton prior to its move to Knoebels in 1938. (Columbia County Historical Society)
The bridge, relocated at Knoebels Amusement Resort in 1938. (D. Kline)
The bridge being dismantled in 1938 to move to its new home. (Knoebel Family)
19
Powered by FlippingBook