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SWISSHOME
Lake Creek
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T17S-R9W-Sec29
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August 2, 1890: "L. N. Roney and gang are at work on the Lake Creek bridge. He expects to finish the work in three weeks." (Eugene City Guard)
October 21, 1919: "'At Home,' in a new covered bridge built by the county across Lake Creek, is an odd individual who has fitted up the county's property with all the comforts of a cottage, according to reports received in Eugene, and Constable J.J. Harbaugh left Tuesday for Lake Creek to make an investigation and rid the bridge of its dweller.
The unknown man, it is said, has moved his household goods into the covered bridge, has boarded up the ends, and defies the cold with a heater." (The Eugene Guard)
October 22, 1919: "A man and his family have pre-empted the newly built covered bridge that spans Lake creek near Swisshome on the main wagon road between Eugene and Mapleton, according to information received by the county officials yesterday, and has set up housekeeping on the structure, effectually blocking traffic.
The bridge is of the old-style wooden cover type and the cover being built to shed all moisture, this man evidently concluded to settle there for the winter but his plans are due for an upsetting, the county officials having sent Constable J.J. Harbaugh out there yesterday to order the 'squatters' to move out.
There is never much team or auto traffic along that road and this man evidently thought that the bridge was not in use and deemed this a good opportunity to help solve the house shortage problem." (Morning Register)
October 23, 1919: "Why worry about the shortage of houses as long as there is a nice covered county bridge that has not been preempted?
C.J. Bennett and his wife and his nine children solved the house problem about ten days ago by moving into the bridge across Lake creek at Swiss Home and he might have been enjoying free rent and plenty of fresh air had not the county commissioners held other ideas as to solving the house problem.
To Colonel J.J. Harbaugh and a couple of deputies was given the sad duty of removing the household effects of this family of eleven.
Upon looking over the improvised home, the colonel noted that a wagon bed, nicely placed along the inside of the bridge, had been serving as a bed for the bridge dwellers. Without any ceremony, the county official dumped said wagon bed - bedstead into and over the bridge to the shores of Swiss creek.
Other household articles including the cooking stove were likewise disposed of. And now the family of C.J. Bennett including seven childre of school age, has moved on.
But not far, as Mr. Bennett has rented a shack near the bridge and is following his usual occupation, that of hauling gravel for a dam under construction near by.
It just happens that about ten days ago Mr. Bennett and his numerous progeny decided to move and in looking for comfortable quarters, moved all their household goods into the bridge. Once in a while travelers reported the domestic affairs of the bridge, but it was not until yesterday when Colonel Harbaugh appeared on the scene that anyone offered to disturb the peace of the bridge dwellers." (The Eugene Guard)
December 14, 1959: "Order accepting bid of Tom Lillebo Construction Company for Swisshome Bridge over Lake Creek, Bridge No. 8621." (The Eugene Guard)