Jericho Covered Bridge

The Jericho Covered Bridge is a Burr Arch through truss covered bridge across the Little Gunpowder Falls near Baltimore, Maryland. This bridge is the only remaining covered bridge in Baltimore and Harford counties and is one of only three remaining functioning covered bridges in the state of Maryland. It was originally constructed in 1865 to connect the cotton mills, spade factory and wrought iron works in Jericho and Franklinville with the flour mills and blacksmith shops in Jerusalem.

The bridge was rehabilitated in 1937, when the truss the strengthened with the addition of a Queenpost truss, metal braces, tie rods, new flooring, and new walls. The bridge was closed in 1980 due to concerns about the safety of the flooring. The bridge was rehabilitated in 1983 when steel girders were hidden under the deck, new boards were installed, a roof was replaced, and the abutments were repaired.

In 2015 and 2016, a major rehabilitation was performed. This included replacing all damaged heavy timer, installing a new cedar roof, installing a new floor, repairing the abutments, and adding new paint, fire retardant, and an anti-graffiti coating. In addition, an outside over height protection system and security cameras were installed.

In order to perform the timber replacement, the bridge was “rolled” off the stream and onto the approach road. The timber was then lifted off the flooring, which allowed the steel to be fully cleaned, primed, and painted. Individual timber members were replaced, and the bridge was back over the flooring. Once it was back in place, the portals, siding, and roof were re-built.

This bridge is said to be haunted, although there are no documented reports of anyone be  injured or dying at the site, or anything concrete to substantiate these claims. There are rumors of cars stalling on the bridge at night, as well as people seeing the ghostly silhouettes of people hanging from the bridge’s trusses, a girl carrying a basket of flowers, a woman with a severely burned face, and an animal-like creature said to protect the bridge from unwanted visitors.