It’s over Sinking Creek in Giles County near Newport and was built in 1919 on private property.  It carries farm traffic, but is not open to the public.

            The history of the covered bridge and the chain of events that occurred as the farm changed hands with the family are entwined.  Alexander S. Reynolds purchased 6 shares of 150 acres each between 1837 and 1852.  There is no record of just when he gave the property to James Madison Reynolds, his oldest son, who had married Martha Ross in 1849.  Eventually they had at least eight children.  We are not sure if the log house was on the property when it was first purchased, but James Madison probably put the addition on it.  The eastern part of the house is the original log section, while the western part appears to have been added much later and is made of frame.  Different architectural features throughout the house reflect the renovations.

            In 1902 James Madison Reynolds deeded his property containing 200 acres to his son Harvey Black Reynolds with several stipulations including retaining a life estate and for Harvey Black to share a water line with his brother William Paris, who had purchased adjoining land containing 80 acres from Nannie and James Maurice Puckett.  The Pucketts’ out lived nearby.  Later between 1912 and 1919 J. Maurice Puckett was appointed the public roads overseer to direct the road crews that built the three covered bridges in Newport.

            Martha, James Madison Reynolds’ wife died in 1901 and he died in 1907.  Both are buried on a hill behind their home on the farm.  Harvey Black purchased 22 ½ acres from his brother, William Paris.  Now the farm consisted of 222 ½ acres.

            Harvey Black and Sally, his wife, were victims of the Great Depression.  The holders of the second deed of trust foreclosed.  The property was sold at public auction to the holder of the first deed of trust who sold it to Clarence King Reynolds and his wife Annabel.  It was the same 222 ½ acres previously owned by Harvey Black Reynolds and his wife Sally.  Harvey Black was Clarence King Reynolds uncle.  This was in 1934.  Clarence King died in 1983 and the farm with a contiguous ¼ acre, a total of 222 ¾ acres including the covered bridge passed to his son Ralph Rodgers Reynolds and daughter Beatrice Ann Porterfield.  Ralph Rodgers died in 2004.  His half of the farm passed to his wife Katherine Lucas.  She and Beatrice Ann are the present owners.

            Just why the house and out-buildings were on the other side of Sinking Creek no one knows.  There appears to be no other access to the compound other than from VA-42 which was just a dirt country road at that time.

            Harvey Black built the bridge with the help of neighbors, one of whom was James Maurice Puckett.

            This covered bridge is the shortest one in the state.  It is a modified Queenpost truss.  The vertical members are short and do not extend to the plate at the top of the wall.  The segmental arch is only about 4’ high at the middle for the bridge is only 36’-3” long and 11’-10” wide.

            In 1970, C.K. Reynolds put siding on the bridge.  In 1980 the bridge was lifted and four I-beams were placed underneath to support the structure.  Again in 1988 the bridge was raised and the abutments and foundations were repaired with about one foot of reinforced concrete facing.

            The land is fenced along the highway VA-42.  A winding dirt rutted road leads down the slope to the bridge.  Overlooking the rolling land is an idyllic scene of rural simplicity.  At the least 6 buildings beyond the creek and the covered bridge are as picturesque as can be imagined.  Nothing seems to have changed since it was built years ago except that the house is no longer occupied.

            The bridge is not on the National Register of Historic Places.  However, there is a Virginia Historic Landmarks Commission Survey Form recorded.  The cluster of buildings, the house and bridge are all historic landmarks.  The profits from the farm are not enough to repair the buildings and the bridge.  Historic renovations are very costly.

            I would suggest that the owners apply to the Virginia Department of Transportation Enhancement Program to see if their project qualifies for federal funding.  It is located in a nucleus of historic buildings, is close to a highway and could be a valuable restoration project for visitor appreciation of a nineteenth century farm.