Located in the east-central region of the state, Pennsylvania's third largest concentration of historic covered bridges is found in Columbia County. Counting four that lie on the border with neighboring Northumberland County, bridge fans will be impressed with the area's 23 covered bridges.
   Thanks to the Columbia County Covered Bridge Association, this county's bridges are among some of the finest representatives of the 19th century. During the last decade this group of concerned members gathered to focus on covered bridge preservation, not only for the near term, but for the generations to come.
   One of the county's examples of a simple queen post truss bridge is the 49 foot Shoemaker Bridge. This picture captures the historic covered bridge in a park-like setting during the fall season. A nearby Iola resident takes pride in the 1881 wooden bridge, caring for the surrounding grounds.
   Built by T.S. Christian for 325 dollars in 1881, the Shoemaker Bridge was named for a local farmer and lumberman Joseph Shoemaker. Extensive restoration projects in 1991-94 strengthened the bridge with steel members, replaced various truss members and tension tie rods, and installed new floorboards and stringers. Spending 450,000 dollars on the project, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation considers its bridge preservation program a big part of cultural tourism and economic development of the state. The bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.

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