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Overview
The ACWA has completed rebuilding the Augusta Creek covered bridge , which will be used as a year-round, living classroom to promote water resource conservation and sustainable management of one of southwest Michigan's pristine trout streams. The bridge was originally built for William Upjohn on what is now the Michigan Department of Natural Resources property along 42nd St. between B and C Ave (Ross Twp, Kalamazoo Co.). In 1995 the ACWA partnered with the North Country Trial Association and Michigan State University to relocate the bridge at the main stream crossing in MSU's W.K. Kellogg Experimental Forest, a site approximately 2 1/2 miles south of its original location. With support from local businesses, foundations and volunteers, the ACWA has been able to proceed with construction of new concrete piers and restoration of the bridge. In the spring of 2001, stream ecosystem and watershed educational displays will be installed. In addition, a riparian management demonstration site will be started.

Photo album

• Photo 1 (41K) - Local kids (Lauren and Whitney Knollenberg) visit Augusta Creek at covered bridge. 8/96
• Photo 2 (48K) - Large folding doors are removed in preparation for relocating the bridge. 7/98
• Photo 3 (48K) - The ACWA, with help from North Country Trail Assoc., Trout Unlimited and community volunteers, dismantle bridge at original location. 7/98
• Photo 4 (44K) - The bridge's framework is taken down, one "bent" at a time. 7/98
• Photo 5 (56K) - A "bent" is carried to a flatbed trailer for transport to MSU, Kellogg Forest. 7/98
• Photo 6 (52K) - Using MSU Grounds Dept.'s backhoe, the last 12" x 12" timbers that spanned the creek at the original location are removed. 7/98
• Photo 7 (66K) - With help from North Country Trail Assoc., Trout Unlimited and community volunteers, the original bridge at the Kellogg Forest is removed to make way for the covered bridge. 9/99
• Photo 8 (52K) - After excavating behind the original abutments, Wagner-Flook Builders, Inc. start forms for the new concrete supports. 9/99
• Photo 9 (66K) - Last of concrete poured to complete support structure built by Wagner-Flook Builder, Inc. and designed by Greg Keusch, Matrix Engineering. 10/99
• Photo 10 (54K) - Two twenty five foot by 14 inch steel I-beams donated by McCormick Enterprises, Inc. were modified and galvanized by KFM Steel Corporation, Inc. and then installed by Wagner-Flook, Inc. . 10/22/99
• Photo 11 (54K) - Volunteers from Delton Area Rotary, Trout Unlimited, North Country Trail Assoc. and KBS Grounds Dept. help install 6 x 6 deck beams. 10/23/99
• Photo 12 (52K) - Can you say "magna- based drill?" Just one of many pieces of special equipment donated by McCormick Enterprises, Inc. that assured the success of the project. A steel plate clamped to the wooden timber provided a surface to properly align the magnetic-based drill press. When the magnetic base was activated, it would lock the drill press onto the steel plate. 10/23/99
• Photo 13 (60K) - In four days, volunteers drilled 128 holes and bolted sixty-two white oak and douglas fir timbers to the steel I-beams. 10/23,24,29,30/99
• Photo 14 (60K) - Kellogg Forest worker Mick positions Bobcat into place to set first "bent." 10/30/99
• Photo 15 (80K) - Last "bent" is aligned and nailed into place 3 hours after first one was set. 10/30/99
• Photo 16 (52K) - Crew from Hawks Hollow Builders, Inc install maple roofing boards. Owner Jack Gesmundo goes for another board. 11/02/99
• Photo 17 (50K) - Hawks Hollow builders finish job with installation of copper drip edge. 11/04/99
• Photo 18 (80K) - Volunteers take advantage of good weather and install cedar shake roof. 11/06/99
• Photo 19 (52K) - Alan Brooks, Trout Unlimited and Jerry Kohel, Gull Lake Area Rotary, work on bridge framework. 11/09/99
• Photo 20 (83K) - Bridge construction was completed March 22, 2000. Photo of completed bridge taken from creek-side on 07/30/00.
• Photo 21 (99K) - The west entrance of the bridge is guarded by large galvanized, concrete-filled steel pipes. For some unknown reason the north pipe (on the left) is favored as a marking post for dogs crossing the bridge. Dog owners are asked to keep their dogs to the center of the bridge while crossing. This will prevent the galvanizing from being washed from the pipe. The ACWA thanks you for your cooperation ;) 07/30/00.
• Photo 22 (66K) - View of inside the bridge. The dark-stained framing and most of decking is wood from the original covered bridge. 07/30/00
• Photo 23 (63K) - Striking roof line enhances west entrance of covered bridge.
• Photo 24 (65K) - The west approach to the covered bridge offers a quiet walk through a Michigan woodland floodplain. 07/30/00

For photos of other Michigan covered bridges and links to other covered bridge sites go to Michael Fraizer's web page at http://www.net- link.net/~michaelf/covered.htm.

A list of other covered bridge web sites is maintained at http://www.studyweb.com/arch/c bridges.htm.

Timeline

1973

Doug Carrigan and crew built the covered bridge on Augusta Creek (just east of 42nd Street half way between Band C Ave., Ross Twp.) around 1973 for William John Upjohn. It was one of four structures built on the 240 acre Augusta Creek property. Additional historical information was published in a Dec. 11,1995 Kalamazoo Gazette article by Chris Tower titled "Gull Lake bridge is a treat to stumble across."

1990

Around 1990 the MDNR bought the William Upjohn property (Mike Bailey MDNR, 616/685-6851). All structures except the covered bridge were removed from the property by around 1993. The covered bridge sustained some damage in the Fall of 1995 due to vandalism (seen in photos from Feb. 18 and 23, 1996 Kalamazoo Gazette articles about the bridge). The bridge was a favorite spot to enjoy the creek for those living in the area (Photo 1).

1995

During the Fall of 1995 Wes Knollenberg contacted Mike Bailey of the MDNR (616/685-6851) about options to preserve the bridge. MDNR plans at that time were to demolition the bridge because of liability issues.

In the Winter of 1995, Mr. Knollenberg brought the issue of preserving the covered bridge before the Augusta Creek Watershed Association. Over the next several months, the ACWA held meetings to discuss options for preserving the bridge and creating an educational opportunity. After much dialogue it was decided that the best course of action would be to move the bridge to a location where the bridge could be better protected against vandalism and remain accessible to the public. The ACWA also started to contact local businesses, organizations and state agencies about supporting the project, including an educational program. The ACWA planed to use signs inside the bridge to explain the importance of stream ecosystems and proper riparian management. The area next to the bridge would be landscaped to demonstrate various riparian management techniques. The ACWA felt that moving and restoring the covered bridge was a viable and worthwhile project for the following reasons:

1) the covered bridge could be used to draw attention to a valuable natural resource and create a unique setting for educational displays about stream ecosystems and riparian management.
2) willingness of the MDNR and MDEQ to cooperate in having the bridge removed
3) indication from MSU that the bridge would be a valuable addition to the W.K. Kellogg Forest educational facilities
4) support from ACWA members to promote and coordinate the project
5) volunteer support from community members, local businesses and organizations interested in preserving the bridge
6) quality of construction and aesthetic value of the bridge

1996

By August of 1996, an agreement was reached between the ACWA and Michigan State University to move the bridge to the main stream-crossing at the W.K. Kellogg Experimental Forest. At this location the covered bridge is assured long-term maintenance and provides year-round access for local schools and the public. Each year about 100,000 people visit the Kellogg Forest's 700 acres for recreational activities such as trout fishing, cross- country skiing and horseback riding, and to attend Kellogg Biological Station Family Youth and School programs. The Kellogg Forest also features a small trout pond for "Kids Only" fishing, an observation platform, a restored pair of 19th century logging wheels and a log cabin "sugar shack" for demonstrating maple syrup production.

How to move the bridge became the next task. Several options were pursued over a two year period, only to have one after another fall through.

1998

In the spring of 1998 the ACWA approached the North Country Trail Association, Chief Noonday Chapter about helping to move the bridge. It was about this time that the Chief Noonday Chapter was also finishing a section of trail that ran through the W.K. Kellogg Experimental Forest. This trail is part of a national hiking trail system being constructed by the North Country Trail Association (administered by the National Park Service) and will reach from New York to North Dakota (Lynn Waldron, Chief Noonday Chapter, 616/623-5340) when completed. The fact that the trail will actually cross the Augusta Creek covered bridge made for a natural partnership between the ACWA and the NCTA, Chief Noonday Chapter.

On July 16, 18 and 19 of 1998, 25 volunteers from the ACWA, NCTA Chief Noonday Chapter, Trout Unlimited, MSU and the local community joined forces to disassemble the bridge and move it for storage to the Kellogg Experimental Forest. The folding doors were saved (Photo 2), the roof removed (Photo 3) and the framework taken down one "bent" at a time (Photo 4). The "bents" were loaded on a flatbed trailer (Photo 5) and taken to the W.K. Kellogg Forest for storage. The final step in dismantling the bridge was removing the 12" x 12" support timbers (Photo 6). At the new location the covered bridge sits on 14" galvanized steel I-beams.

1999

In September, 1999 the original bridge at the Kellogg Forest was removed (Photo 7). Based upon a structural design by Greg Keusch of Matrix Engineering (Battle Creek, MI), Wagner-Flook Builders, Inc. (Battle Creek, MI) began constructing the concrete abutments that would support the restored covered bridge (Photo 8 and Photo 9). Engineers from Wagner-Flook and KFM Steel Corporation (Kalamazoo, MI) worked hand-in-hand to coordinate the manufacturing and installation of the concrete and steel substructure. All metal parts of the substructure were galvanized courtesy of KFM Steel. On October 22 the steel I-beams, donated by McCormick Enterprises (Delton, MI), were set into place (Photo 10).

The following day volunteers began bolting the 6" x 6" timbers to the steel I-beams (Photo 11) using special tools such as a "magna-based" drill (Photo 12). In four days, volunteers installed sixty-two white oak and douglas fir timbers (Photo 13).

On October 30, 1999, the first "bent" was installed (Photo 14). All nine "bents" were aligned and nailed into place within three hours (Photo 15). Roofing boards were installed the next week by Hawks Hollow Builders, Inc. (Richland, MI) (Photo 16), complete with a copper drip edge (Photo 17).

By November 13 the cedar shake roof was installed (Photo 18) and the framing was completed (Photo 19). Appreciation is given to Barry County Lumber (Hastings, MI), Delton Pole Building Supplies (Delton, MI) and Richland Homecenter (Richland, MI) for their contributions of building materials.

On December 30, volunteers started installing the northern white cedar siding.

2000

As of January 9 the cedar siding was installed on the north side of the bridge and work began on the south side.

As of February 25, the door frames were boxed in with help from Bill Bogue, all of the northern white cedar siding has been installed and most of the soffit work was completed. Gary Bishop of Sherman Lake Woodworks helped build the shutters. The hinges for hanging the shutters were electrostatically powder coated at Wright Coating Company, Inc of Kalamazoo, MI - thanks Tom. Special thanks also to Alan Brooks, Jeff Fleming, Charlie Kramer, Wes Knollenberg and John Soghomonian for working through the winter to keep the project on schedule.

July, 2000 update. Bridge construction was completed March 22, 2000. The bridge is sided with northern white cedar and the roof is covered with thick-butt cedar shakes (Photo 20). The west entrance of the bridge is guarded by large galvanized, concrete-filled steel pipes. For some unknown reason the north pipe (on the left) is favored as a marking post for dogs crossing the bridge. Dog owners are asked to keep their dogs to the center of the bridge while crossing. This will prevent the galvanizing from being washed from the pipe. The ACWA thanks you for your cooperation (Photo 21).

The framework of the bridge now contains a mix of new wood and old. The dark-stained framing and most of the decking is wood from the original covered bridge. The 12 inch wide guard rails running down both sides of the bridge were originally made of pine. In order to better protect the bridge interior framework, the new guard rails were made from white oak (Photo 22). The roof was designed with an extra large overhang to keep as much rain off the structure as possible. The peak at both ends of the roof were given a greater angle than the original design (Photo 23).

The west approach to the covered bridge offers a quiet walk through a Michigan woodland floodplain (Photo 24).

The ACWA education committee has started work on a series of posters which will address various watershed issues. The posters, which will to be displayed inside the bridge, will be updated periodically with new information. K-12 classes are invited to study various watershed issues and share their findings by creating a poster for the covered bridge.

If you have any questions or would like to participate in the watershed education program, please contact Wes Knollenberg by phone at (616) 671-4547 or email at ecovision@aol.com.

Further information and photos (Kodachrome 64 and PlusX pan 125) of the covered bridge taken before the vandalism occurred and during the disassemble process are available from Wes Knollenberg, 616/671-4547 or send email to ecovision@aol.com.

References:

• Kalamazoo Gazette article by Chris Tower, December 11, 1995, Gull Lake bridge is a treat to stumble across. Includes photo of inside of bridge; photo taken before major vandalism incident.
• Kalamazoo Gazette article by Chris Tower, February 18, 1996, Officials ponder repair options for vandalism damage to covered bridge.
• Kalamazoo Gazette editorial by Mary Tift, February 23, 1996, Augusta Creek bridge is worth preserving.

Project Partners

• Barry County Lumber, Hastings, MI
• Chief Noonday Chapter of the North Country Trail Association - National Park Service, Delton, MI (Lynn Waldron, officer, awa an engineer with Tower-Pinkster-Titus Associates of Kalamazoo, MI)
• Consumers Energy Foundation, Jackson, MI
• Delton Pole Building Supplies, Delton, MI
• Denso Manufacturing Michigan, Inc., Battle Creek, MI
• Dorothy U. Dalton Foundation, Kalamazoo, MI
• The John E. Fetzer Institute Fund of the Kalamazoo Foundation, Kalamazoo, MI
• Tom Funke, Head Education Specialist at the Binder Park Zoo, Battle Creek, MI
• Irving S. Gilmore Foundation, Kalamazoo, MI
• Hawks Hollow Builders, Richland, MI (Jack Gesmundo, owner)
• Kalamazoo Conservation District, Kalamazoo, MI (Kathy Buckham and Don Bonnette)
• Kalamazoo Foundation, Kalamazoo, MI
• KFM Steel Corporation of Kalamazoo, MI (Fred Buckley, President)
• Matrix Engineering, Battle Creek, MI (Greg Keusch, engineer)
• McCormick Enterprises, Inc., Delton, MI (Junior Homister, President)
• Michigan Department of Environmental Quality
• Michigan Department of Natural Resources
• Michigan State University Forestry Department, W.K. Kellogg Forest, Augusta, MI
• Michigan State University, Kellogg Biological Station, Hickory Corners, MI
• Richland Homecenter, Richland, MI
• Rotary Club members:
  Delton Area Rotary Club, Delton, MI
  Gull Lake Area Rotary Club, Richland, MI
  Hastings Rotary Club, Hastings, MI
• Sherman Lake Woodworks, Richland, MI (Gary Bishop, owner)
• Trout Unlimited/Kalamazoo Chapter, Kalamazoo, MI
• Harold and Grace Upjohn Foundation, Kalamazoo, MI
• Wagner-Flook Builders, Inc., Battle Creek, MI (Dave Flook, Vice President)
• Wright Coating Company, Inc., Kalamazoo, MI (Tom Hutchinson, Supervisor of Sales and Customer Service)