Ernest Bridge

The Ernest Bridge (occasionally spelled "Earnest" in older county records) crosses the Mohawk River near the small community of Marcola, northeast of Springfield in the Mohawk Valley. Built in 1938 as part of the extensive Depression-era covered bridge construction that swept Lane County, the 75-foot Howe truss span was named for a local pioneer family. Its scenic setting along the winding Mohawk River, framed by forested hillsides, has made it a favorite subject for photographers and one of the more visually striking stops in the county. The bridge gained a measure of Hollywood fame when it was used as a filming location for the 1965 James Stewart Civil War drama "Shenandoah," a role local historical accounts still point to with pride. Added to the National Register of Historic Places on November 29, 1979, the Ernest Bridge has been maintained through periodic repairs by Lane County's bridge maintenance program and remains open to vehicle traffic, serving both as a working rural crossing and as a well-known stop for covered bridge enthusiasts touring the Mohawk Valley.