Back In The Days Of Prohibition, Gallon House Covered Bridge In Oregon Had Quite A Shady Reputation
By Catherine Armstrong|Published November 19, 2019
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Catherine Armstrong
Author
Writer, editor and researcher with a passion for exploring new places. Catherine loves local bookstores, independent films, and spending time with her family, including Gus the golden retriever, who is a very good boy.
Oregon’s covered bridges are charming little pieces of history that are scattered all throughout the state. It’s a worthy goal to see all of them, or at least choose some of the most beautiful to explore. Some bridges are short, some are long, and some have unique histories. The Gallon House Covered Bridge has an interesting story from the 1920s.
You'll find Gallon House Covered Bridge in Marion County. It spans Abiqua Creek about a mile north of Silverton.
Built in 1916, this bridge is the second oldest in the state, and the oldest in Marion County. It celebrated its 100th birthday just a few years ago, and you'll find a commemorative plaque at the bridge with information about its history.
Gallon House Bridge is a Howard Truss-style bridge, similar to many other Oregon covered bridges, and it spans 84 feet. The bridge is quaint and charming, but what really makes it interesting is its unique history.
Gallon House Bridge was built just a few years before the Eighteenth Amendment to the Constitution was ratified in 1920. That amendment, along with the Volstead Act, made it illegal to sell alcoholic beverages in the United States.
Prior to federal legislation, many of Oregon's smaller municipalities had already banned the sale of alcohol. In 1916, the town of Silverton was "dry," but the town of Mt. Angel, on the other side of the bridge, was not.
Residents in the area found ways around the law. Those in Silverton would cross Gallon House Bridge into Mt. Angel and purchase whiskey from bootleggers there. If asked, they said that the whiskey was a "gift," which wasn't illegal in 1916, but in reality, money was definitely being exchanged.
People in both towns who were aware of the bootlegging going on started calling the bridge "Gallon House Bridge" because of its close proximity to the small shack where the gallons of whiskey were sold.
Today, you'll want to visit Gallon House Covered Bridge, not for the whiskey, but for its quaint, quirky history and photo-worthy appearance.
Have you visited Gallon House Covered Bridge? We’d love to see your photos in the comments!
If you’d like to visit another covered bridge with a cool history, visit the town of Otis, where you’ll find Oregon’s oldest covered bridge. It was moved from its original location and saved, and you’ll love the heartwarming story behind its renovation.
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