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McKEE
Applegate River
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T40S-R3W-Sec5
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1917 - Present
September 1, 1917: "Sealed proposals, addressed to the County Court of Jackson County, Oregon, and endorsed 'Proposals for Constructing a Bridge in Jackson County, Oregon, over Big Applegate River,' will be received by the County Court of said County at its offices in the courthouse, Jacksonville, Oregon, until 10 o'clock a.m., on the 15th day of September, 1917, and that time and place will be publicly opened and read." (Medford Mail Tribune)
May 13, 1938: "The Jackson county bridge crew, working under the supervision of Hartman Brothers of Jacksonville, is replacing worn planks in the floor of the McKee bridge." (Medford Mail Tribune)
October 16, 1941: "Extensive repair work on the McKee bridge will be started within a week, it was learned here. The work will be done by Hartman Brothers of Jacksonville, county bridge builders, and will include a new roof and floor, and reinforcement of joists.
McKee bridge, located eight miles above Ruch, is one of the few remaining picturesque covered bridges, and was built 24 years ago. Through association of its name with the forest park and swimming hole nearby, the bridge has become a noted structure in southern Oregon." (Medford Mail Tribune)
March 14, 1947: "McKee bridge in the Applegate district has been closed to traffic as the result of an automobile accident this morning which seriously damaged the bridge. Paul Rynning, county engineer, reported. Rynning said repair of the bridge will require considerable labor and may take several days.
Persons traveling up the Applegate should turn left at Cameron bridge, he stated, in order to avoid the damaged McKee bridge.
A truck and sedan collided on the bridge, Rynning said he was informed, breaking a wooden truss which supports the bridge. The bridge is now left literally 'hanging by a thread' the engineer said. He added that had the truss been shoved a couple inches further, the whole bridge would probably have collapsed into the river, along with the truck and car." (Medford Mail Tribune)
December 7, 1955: "The largest project planned for the next year is construction of a new McKee bridge over the Applegate river. The steel reinforced, concrete structure will replace a wooden covered bridge." (Medford Mail Tribune)
January 27, 1956: "Bids on four Jackson county highway projects, including replacing the covered McKee bridge across Applegate river south of Ruch, were opened by the state highway commission in Portland this morning.
R & M Construction company, Central Point, $55,095 for a 302-foot bridge over Applegate river on county road nine miles south of Ruch. The bridge will replace the present covered McKee bridge." (Medford Mail Tribune)
February 21, 1956: "Clearing and grading of recently acquired rights of way for the new McKee bridge on the Applegate began Saturday by county crews, according to County Engineer Paul Rynning.
The county court recently purchased right of way property from David Winningham, Ben Twiss and Arthur Hall." (Medford Mail Tribune)
July 10, 1957: "Motorists in the Upper Applegate area have been surprised to find that the old McKee bridge has been closed to vehicle traffic. Large banks of dirt and white guard posts have blocked the bridge since completing the new bridge a short distance up-stream.
The old covered bridge is one of few such structures still standing, and was built in 1917 by the late Jason Hartman, father of Hartman Bros., bridge superintendents for the county. Several have expressed the desire that the old bridge be preserved for its historic and picturesque value." (Medford Mail Tribune)
April 29, 1963: "Fast action by three youths and their neighbors saved the McKee covered bridge from burning late last night, after someone deliberately set the historic structure on fire.
John Winningham and Delmer and Danny Hawkins saw the fire around 10:30 p.m. They ran over and started throwing water on it. Neighbors came to their aid and formed a bucket brigade.
The fire was out when seven men and a pumper from the Star Ranger station arrived. The forest service men kept the bridge wetted down to make certain it would not rekindle.
Neil Suttell, district ranger, reported that damage was confined to charring." (Medford Mail Tribune)