Covered Bridges on Lions Pins

Greetings! I collect Lions and Lioness pins with my favorite subject on them, covered bridges. Why would a club have a pin with that topic? Some clubs actually have a covered bridge in their community and may be involved in its restoration and upkeep. Others simpy like covered bridges and want to use them as an enjoyable way to let others know about these vanishing pieces of our heritage.

You might ask why bridges were covered in the first place. Many say it was to afford a safe crossing of frozen rivers and streams in the winter. However, many New England communities had young children haul ice and snow onto a bridge during the winter months to protect the wooden roadway from being damaged by the metal runners on their sleighs. Winter weather was not a problem in the deep South. Covered bridges were built in Alabama, Georgia, So. Carolina, and many other Southern states. Did you know that the southern most covered bridge is in south Georgia almost on the Florida/Alabama line!

How about protection from the elements? You might think that people would seek shelter from summer storms under the roof of a nearby bridge and that certainly happened.

The real reason bridges were covered was to protect the wooden structure, not its builders, from the damaging effects of water. With proper care, attention and regular maintenance, wooden bridges can last several lifetimes. They are a marvel of human resourcefulness and ingenuity.

At any rate, there are a large number of Lions and Lioness pins that depict covered bridges here in the United States as well as Canada. There is even one from Switzerland! I have attempted to show the pins in order by state and as new ones are issued or discovered, I'll update the listing. I've marked the newer listings with a (*) and the ones I am missing with a (X). If you happen to have an extra, I would appreciate an opportunity to try to work a trade for it. If you have one that is not shown, please let me know, so I can add it to the list.

I have or know of pins from the following states. Go directly to a state by clicking on its name.

Thanks, I hope you enjoy this page!

Lion Ray Moore, PDG 18-A

famousray@comcast.net

U.S.A.

Alaska

Bob Niebert 49-A DG Mac McCarthy 49-B DG

California

Chico Lioness

Florida

Coral Springs Downtown

Georgia

Illinois

St. Joe

Indiana

Matthews

1980

North Manchester

Iowa

Bridges of Madison County

Jack Longacre PDG

Massachusetts

Colrain

Pepperell

Michigan

Centerville

Minnesota

Zumbrota

Missouri

New Hampshire

New Jersey

Old Bridge Lioness (X)

New York

Ohio

Oregon

Pennsylvania

Vermont

Virginia

Washington

Grays River Valley

West Virginia

Philippi

Wisconsin

Cedarburg

Canada

New Brunswick

Ontario

Quebec

Switzerland

MD 102

Switzerland-Lichtenstein