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The first Lost Bridge was thought to have been completed in early 1866.
David Rittenhouse mentioned in his diary on the dates of
February 19, 1866 and April 14, 1866 that he had walked down to see
the new bridge. The Lost Bridge was a wooden covered bridge
called a Howe Truss design with stone piers
spaced 200 feet apart. Covered bridges were often
nicknamed "kissing bridges" due to the privacy allowed an
amorous couple from curious bystanders. The article 'A Page From
The Past' written by J.O. Speed appeared in the 'Valley Journal'
in July, 1953, mentioned the popularity of the Lost Bridge as a hang
site for young couples on Sunday afternoons at the turn of the
century. Built of heavy timber, it had only a small
amount of ironwork in the frame and glass windows. The bridge was
built near a site used as a ford for 75 years prior to the
bridge's existence. John Chamberlain of Vermont was the Contractor. It
is noted that he boarded at the home of Job Hayes on Mt. Nebo.
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Originally
named the 'Big Miami Bridge', the name of 'Lost Bridge' is referred
to as early as 1865, supposedly before it was built. There are many
legends as to how it received the name "Lost Bridge". All
of them seem plausible, so the real reason may never be known. One of
the best known legends is that when the County Commissioners authorized
the construction of the bridge, no provision was made for a fill
at the west end, which stood at least 20' above the ground level. Therefore
the bridge was inaccessible or "lost" to the community. A
variation of this legend is that farmers of that vicinity had
agreed to supply gravel fills for the approach from the west
side, after the bridge was completed. Whatever the reason, the
gravel fills were not accomplished for an unknown number of years. Until
then residents and travelers were forced to climb up and down a ladder
to get on and off the "unapproachable" covered bridge. Minnie
Matson Bonham was a young girl attending school at Elizabethtown during
the years that the bridge was "lost". She told of
climbing a ladder on her way to and from school. She also claimed
the approaches were finally filled with gravel and rock by her father, John
B. Matson and Chalon Guard, from the Matson farm located at the east end
of the bridge.
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Hamilton
County Engineer