In 1985, the future of McKee Bridge looked grim. After spending $43,000 on partial repairs (the equivalent of $126,000 today), Jackson County Commissioners decided they would no longer commit road funds for the bridge. Public Works Director Joseph Strahl explained that “the bridge isn’t significant to the transportation system anymore.” The bridge had been closed to vehicles in 1956 when the “modern” concrete bridge was built across the Applegate River a quarter mile upstream. Even after the stopgap repairs in 1985, engineers predicted that the bridge would be unsafe for pedestrians by 1990. Strahl told the commissioners that their choice then would be to invest another $15,000 or let McKee Bridge crumble into the river “of its own weight in a strong breeze.”
But the community did not let a strong breeze take her down! They reached back to the 1965 model of community and nonprofit collaboration to replace the roof, which had collapsed under the heavy snows that triggered the Christmas Flood of 1964. Reporter Tam Moore, who served as County Commissioner during 1974-79, today reflects that "the bridge had friends in the county Roads Department who helped the citizens do their thing and assure that the span remained sound”—friends like Strahl, McKee Bridge Historical Society (MBHS) Treasurer Dale Petracek, John Ifft with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and MBHS Secretary Barb Mumblo, with the U.S. Forest Service.
In 1987, Forest Service Ranger Dick Marlega hosted a meeting of 44 people at Star Ranger Station to form the Save McKee Bridge Committee, marshal money and resources, and perform the next round of extensive repairs. In just two years, a flurry of fundraisers—from bingo and chili feeds to the exquisite McKee Bridge Museum Quilt—raised $68,830, qualifying for state lottery funds for the next round of repairs. Volunteers then gave time and labor on-site to make Port Orford roofing shakes the traditional way and to complete the interior after exterior siding was stripped and replaced.
The committee incorporated as the nonprofit McKee Bridge Historical Society in 1999. An inspection in 2011 revealed “serious structural deficiencies,” and the bridge was immediately closed. Again, the community rallied. MBHS raised over $60,000 in matching funds for a Federal Highway Administration grant. $610,000 in rehabilitation work was conducted in 2014-15.
Maintaining our treasured bridge is an ongoing commitment. Last year, MBHS paid for the timbers and the Roads Department provided labor to replace deteriorated boards in the approach walkway. The next mandatory inspection (to be paid for by MBHS) will be performed in 2027; the last inspection cost $12,000.
Of course, MBHS does much more than bridge work! We share stories and photos daily on Facebook and Instagram, constantly expand the Virtual Museum at www.mckeebridge.org, and host fun events like Christmas on a Covered Bridge.
To date, our scholarship program has supported six Applegate scholars—and we are thrilled to announce the recipients for the 2025-26 school year:
Evan Strickland, a senior at Logos Charter School, will study engineering and history at George Fox University.
Ocean Demmin-Ferneau will continue at the University of Oregon, studying psychology and history.
Timothy Root will enter his third year at Pensacola Christian College, majoring in mechanical engineering.
Zeyna DiBiasi will continue as a business major, with emphasis on nonprofits, at Oregon State University.
Congratulations to these scholars, and congratulations to our community for keeping Oregon’s
most beautiful covered bridge standing in every sort of breeze.
Laura B. Ahearn
Mckeebridge1917@gmail.com
458-226-0666
