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Vandalism defaces historic Dover Covered Bridge

By DANETTA BARKER Staff Writer

Friday, November 18, 2005 9:36 PM EST

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The money spent on Mason County's Dover Covered Bridge to preserve and protect the span for future generations didn't protect the structure from vandals.

Names written in spray paint cover the beams that were meticulously replaced just a few years ago. The vandalism has raised the ire of at least one public official. Judge-Executive James "Buddy" Gallenstein is trying to find out who defaced the historic public property.

"I wonder if these kids would go home and spray paint their grandmother's chest of drawers?" Gallenstein asked.

Pictures of the vandalism were dropped off at Gallenstein's office Thursday. Although the person who left the photos didn't leave a name, they do live in the area, according to Gallenstein.

Gallenstein took the pictures and made his own visit to the bridge where he saw first hand the damage done to the structure.

"That bridge has been there 100 years and nobody bothered to vandalize it," Gallenstein said. "We spend taxpayers money to preserve it for the next generation and this gets done."

Vandals recently painted graffiti on the inside walls of the Dover Covered Bridge near Dover. A great deal of money has been spent over the past several years for the upkeep of the bridge.Terry Prather/Staff

Names, initials and drawings have been painted in various colors on the ceiling, walls and sides of the bridge.

Gallenstein has no idea when the graffiti was painted on the bridge. He said he was at the bridge during the summer and nothing was there, everything looked fine.

The Dover Covered Bridge is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The bridge was built in 1835 to span Lee's Creek. The Kirk family had a grist mill close by, along with a toll gate.

Nearly five years ago, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet received funds to restore all of Kentucky's covered bridges. According to then District 9 Chief District Engineer Jim Rummage, the Dover bridge received a new roof, siding and new floors as well as new siding in some places.

Last year, Lee's Creek Road was closed from September to November for construction of a new bridge that eased the load which was carried by the historic covered bridge, according to the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet.

The concrete bridge next to the Dover Covered Bridge cost nearly a $1 million to build. The new bridge is wider and has an increased weight limit. The covered bridge has an 11-ton weight limit. Diverting traffic from the covered bridge will reduce wear on the historic structure, according to information from the cabinet.

Gallenstein said he planned to contact law enforcement to investigate the vandalism.

Contact Danetta Barker at Danetta.Barker@lee.net or call 606-564-9091, ext. 272.

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