Ritner Creek Covered Bridge

The Ritner Creek Bridge was the last covered bridge in use on Oregon’s highways. Note that it is not the last that can still be driven over – there are several in Linn County that are still drivable. Located about two miles south of Peedee on King’s Highway/Highway 223, the bridge played an important role in the community. It was used to house weddings, community events, and local residents even mounted mail boxes inside to protect them from the weather.

Back side of bridge

About the bridge

The sign (placed by Polk County) says “Text from the Ritner Creek Bridge Sign
Ritner Creek Bridge, one of the covered bridges remaining in Oregon west of the Cascades, almost became a memory in 1974. Declared structurally unsafe, it was scheduled for removal. The children of Pedee School along with the citizens in the Pedee area rallied to its support with a “Save our Bridge” campaign. The County commissioners met with the state highway department and as a result the issue was placed on the ballot May 28, 1974. The measure passed and the covered bridge was moved to an adjacent site. The new bridge on Highway 223 parallels it.

Ritner Creek Bridge was named for a pioneer, Sebastian Ritner who arrived in Oregon in 1845. Some of his descendants still live in this area.

The bridge was built in 1926 by Hammer and Curry Contractors at a cost of $6,963.78. Relocation of the bridge cost the taxpayers $26,031 in 1975 – 1976. And additional $533.08 has been spent on a mini-park, which is located next to the bridge. Another park, Ritner Creek County Park is located a few miles upstream.”

Closeup of the truss design

View of “windows” and how they are installed

“front” of bridge

View through a window

The park containing the bridge is the Minnie Ritner Ruiter Wayside. It remains an important community area for celebration to this day.

Photo by Ben Maxwell in 1942.

In May 1960, the Oregon Historical Society sponsored a covered bridge tour. I am not able to find any information about the exact route today, but one of the men on the tour was the builder, Charles Otis Hamar, (listed as Otis Hamar in several records.) Based out of Dallas, Oregon, Mr. Hamar was a prolific builder of Covered Bridges. In addition to the Ritner Bridge, he built the Chitwood, Drift Creek, Fisher School, and the North Fork Yachats River Covered Bridges. These are just the ones still standing, he built many more in addition to these five. Please comment below if you know of any other bridges he built.

Otis Hamar 1960 by Ben Maxwell

L to R: Tom Vaughan; Robert Scott; Otis Hamar, and J.N. Dunn

Bad car accident just past the bridge, photo taken 1961 by Ben Maxwell

The bridge in 1973, just before it was moved

Note that the Salem Library website says the road was moved, not the bridge. But if you look at the road here, I feel that the bridge was moved and the road stayed the same. What do you think?