The Ringo's Mill Covered Bridge spans Fox Creek in Fleming County, Kentucky.  Ringo's Mill was named for a grist mill situated 50 yards downstream.  Built in 1868, it was bypassed in 1968 by a new bridge. 

The bridge's timbers are yellow pine. It was probably built by the same contractor who constructed the Hillsboro Covered Bridge several miles down Fox Creek. Abutments are of red stone covered with a concrete facing, and the walls are double-sided with yellow poplar. Ventilation and light are provided by clerestory openings in the siding. The bridge is a multiple kingpost truss design. Patent bridges were the "bread and butter" of early engineers who typically received one dollar per linear foot of bridge construction for the use of the patented design.

The statement "Patent bridges were the 'bread and butter' of early engineers who typically received one dollar per linear foot of bridge construction for the use of the patented design" is an overstatement. Burr rarely received royalties for the use of his design. The premise of "one dollar per foot..." is specific to Ithiel Town, who designed the Town lattice truss. Ithiel Town was an astute businessman and had agents who sold his design for one dollar per foot. He charged two dollars per foot in penalty if it was discovered that a bridge builder had used his design without authorization.

The length of this bridge is a little controversial, with some saying it is 86 feet long and others calling it 90 feet long, depending on how the set of double posts at each end is measured. The sign on the bridge says it is an 81-foot multiple kingpost truss. 

Ringo's Mill Bridge was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in  1976.

Located at:  N38 16.116   W83 36.622         -         WGCB #17-35-04

Photographed in September of 2021

Photos by Millard Farmer