Ky. man builds a covered bridge to call his own

A disappearing emblem of Kentucky's past has made a comeback in Nelson County, in the central part of the state. David Mattingly first thought of building his own covered bridge eight years ago, and now after years of planning and work he has accomplished his dream: A 60-foot long, 20-foot high bridge spans a creek at the front of his property. “I just always wanted a covered bridge,” Mattingly told Lydelle Abbott of The Kentucky Standard in Bardstown (Abbott photo). Kentucky once had more than 400 covered bridges, but only 13 remain today,

After obtaining the necessary permits, Mattingly says construction took a couple of months, working on the weekends, Abbot reports. He said he has "always liked history and 'old timey stuff,' and looking at the things that others have preserved," Abbott writes. The bridge has received much praise from neighbors and one couple has even made plans to take some of their wedding photographs there this weekend. Abbott plans to paint the bridge red. (Read more)