The Ruddles Mill Bridge crossed Stoner Creek in the tiny town of Ruddles Mill in Bourbon County on what is today known as Ky Highway 1940. It stood from 1861 until it was lost to arson on August 11, 1964. The bridge was 150 feet long. <BR><BR> In a 1953 Courier Journal article, it was said that some local boys would have "mock hangings" in the bridge to scare motorists traveling through the bridge.<BR><BR> The bridge was burned just two days after funding was approved for its restoration. Locals recall seeing a light colored car of teenage boys heading towards the bridge shortly before the fire. Three off duty firemen were injured when they lost control of their truck on the way to the fire.<BR><Br> A concrete bridge now stands in this bridge's place. <b><font color=red><a href="http://www.kycoveredbridges.org">Return to KyCoveredBridges.org</a></font></B> http://csimelissa.smugmug.com/Covered-Bridges/Ruddles-Mill-Bridge/073043RMColeman/121242688_k3YBw-Ti.jpg http://csimelissa.smugmug.com/gallery/2318431_wnvTk/ 2007-01-13T09:32:33Z Copyright 2009, the copyright holder of each photograph. Some portions copyright SmugMug. All rights reserved. SmugMug <p><a href="http://csimelissa.smugmug.com">Melissa Jurgensen (CSIMelissa)</a><br />July 30, 1943, J. Winston Coleman photographer. Photo courtesy L.K. Patton, Ph.D.</p><p><a href="http://csimelissa.smugmug.com/Covered-Bridges/Ruddles-Mill-Bridge/2318431_wnvTk#121242688_k3YBw" title="July 30, 1943, J. Winston Coleman photographer. Photo courtesy L.K. Patton, Ph.D."><img src="http://csimelissa.smugmug.com/Covered-Bridges/Ruddles-Mill-Bridge/073043RMColeman/121242688_k3YBw-Th.jpg" width="150" height="118" alt="July 30, 1943, J. Winston Coleman photographer. Photo courtesy L.K. Patton, Ph.D." title="July 30, 1943, J. Winston Coleman photographer. Photo courtesy L.K. Patton, Ph.D." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-02-14T21:54:47Z Melissa Jurgensen (CSIMelissa) http://csimelissa.smugmug.com http://csimelissa.smugmug.com/Covered-Bridges/Ruddles-Mill-Bridge/073043RMColeman/121242688_k3YBw-Th.jpg <p><a href="http://csimelissa.smugmug.com">Melissa Jurgensen (CSIMelissa)</a><br />September 23, 1945, J. Winston Coleman photo Photo courtesy L.K. Patton, Ph.D.</p><p><a href="http://csimelissa.smugmug.com/Covered-Bridges/Ruddles-Mill-Bridge/2318431_wnvTk#121243181_SNjhU" title="September 23, 1945, J. Winston Coleman photo Photo courtesy L.K. Patton, Ph.D."><img src="http://csimelissa.smugmug.com/Covered-Bridges/Ruddles-Mill-Bridge/092345RMColeman2/121243181_SNjhU-Th.jpg" width="150" height="116" alt="September 23, 1945, J. Winston Coleman photo Photo courtesy L.K. Patton, Ph.D." title="September 23, 1945, J. Winston Coleman photo Photo courtesy L.K. Patton, Ph.D." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-02-14T21:55:41Z Melissa Jurgensen (CSIMelissa) http://csimelissa.smugmug.com http://csimelissa.smugmug.com/Covered-Bridges/Ruddles-Mill-Bridge/092345RMColeman2/121243181_SNjhU-Th.jpg <p><a href="http://csimelissa.smugmug.com">Melissa Jurgensen (CSIMelissa)</a><br />July 17, 1947</p><p><a href="http://csimelissa.smugmug.com/Covered-Bridges/Ruddles-Mill-Bridge/2318431_wnvTk#121243351_DMyDz" title="July 17, 1947"><img src="http://csimelissa.smugmug.com/Covered-Bridges/Ruddles-Mill-Bridge/RuddlesMill071747/121243351_DMyDz-Th.jpg" width="150" height="106" alt="July 17, 1947" title="July 17, 1947" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-06-12T05:05:02Z Melissa Jurgensen (CSIMelissa) http://csimelissa.smugmug.com http://csimelissa.smugmug.com/Covered-Bridges/Ruddles-Mill-Bridge/RuddlesMill071747/121243351_DMyDz-Th.jpg <p><a href="http://csimelissa.smugmug.com">Melissa Jurgensen (CSIMelissa)</a><br />July 17, 1947</p><p><a href="http://csimelissa.smugmug.com/Covered-Bridges/Ruddles-Mill-Bridge/2318431_wnvTk#121243435_paeUf" title="July 17, 1947"><img src="http://csimelissa.smugmug.com/Covered-Bridges/Ruddles-Mill-Bridge/RuddlesMill071747b/121243435_paeUf-Th.jpg" width="150" height="119" alt="July 17, 1947" title="July 17, 1947" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-06-12T05:03:07Z Melissa Jurgensen (CSIMelissa) http://csimelissa.smugmug.com http://csimelissa.smugmug.com/Covered-Bridges/Ruddles-Mill-Bridge/RuddlesMill071747b/121243435_paeUf-Th.jpg <p><a href="http://csimelissa.smugmug.com">Melissa Jurgensen (CSIMelissa)</a><br />1953 Photo courtesy L.K. Patton, Ph.D.</p><p><a href="http://csimelissa.smugmug.com/Covered-Bridges/Ruddles-Mill-Bridge/2318431_wnvTk#121243236_oeJ9o" title="1953 Photo courtesy L.K. Patton, Ph.D."><img src="http://csimelissa.smugmug.com/Covered-Bridges/Ruddles-Mill-Bridge/1953RMCourierJ/121243236_oeJ9o-Th.jpg" width="150" height="118" alt="1953 Photo courtesy L.K. Patton, Ph.D." title="1953 Photo courtesy L.K. Patton, Ph.D." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-06-12T05:13:49Z Melissa Jurgensen (CSIMelissa) http://csimelissa.smugmug.com http://csimelissa.smugmug.com/Covered-Bridges/Ruddles-Mill-Bridge/1953RMCourierJ/121243236_oeJ9o-Th.jpg <p><a href="http://csimelissa.smugmug.com">Melissa Jurgensen (CSIMelissa)</a><br />Ruddles Mill Bridge, Bourbon County, March 7, 1953. Photo by Traugott Keller.</p><p><a href="http://csimelissa.smugmug.com/Covered-Bridges/Ruddles-Mill-Bridge/2318431_wnvTk#122951423_MgH83" title="Ruddles Mill Bridge, Bourbon County, March 7, 1953. Photo by Traugott Keller."><img src="http://csimelissa.smugmug.com/Covered-Bridges/Ruddles-Mill-Bridge/574030753/122951423_MgH83-Th.jpg" width="150" height="100" alt="Ruddles Mill Bridge, Bourbon County, March 7, 1953. Photo by Traugott Keller." title="Ruddles Mill Bridge, Bourbon County, March 7, 1953. Photo by Traugott Keller." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-02-14T19:34:13Z Melissa Jurgensen (CSIMelissa) http://csimelissa.smugmug.com http://csimelissa.smugmug.com/Covered-Bridges/Ruddles-Mill-Bridge/574030753/122951423_MgH83-Th.jpg <p><a href="http://csimelissa.smugmug.com">Melissa Jurgensen (CSIMelissa)</a><br />Ruddles Mill Bridge, Bourbon County, March 7, 1953. Photo by Traugott Keller.</p><p><a href="http://csimelissa.smugmug.com/Covered-Bridges/Ruddles-Mill-Bridge/2318431_wnvTk#72163228_hsFf6" title="Ruddles Mill Bridge, Bourbon County, March 7, 1953. Photo by Traugott Keller."><img src="http://csimelissa.smugmug.com/Covered-Bridges/Ruddles-Mill-Bridge/577030753/72163228_hsFf6-Th.jpg" width="150" height="99" alt="Ruddles Mill Bridge, Bourbon County, March 7, 1953. Photo by Traugott Keller." title="Ruddles Mill Bridge, Bourbon County, March 7, 1953. Photo by Traugott Keller." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-02-21T00:53:48Z Melissa Jurgensen (CSIMelissa) http://csimelissa.smugmug.com http://csimelissa.smugmug.com/Covered-Bridges/Ruddles-Mill-Bridge/577030753/72163228_hsFf6-Th.jpg <p><a href="http://csimelissa.smugmug.com">Melissa Jurgensen (CSIMelissa)</a><br />Ruddles Mill Bridge, Bourbon County, March 7, 1953. Photo by Traugott Keller.</p><p><a href="http://csimelissa.smugmug.com/Covered-Bridges/Ruddles-Mill-Bridge/2318431_wnvTk#122951578_6Lxkg" title="Ruddles Mill Bridge, Bourbon County, March 7, 1953. Photo by Traugott Keller."><img src="http://csimelissa.smugmug.com/Covered-Bridges/Ruddles-Mill-Bridge/576030753/122951578_6Lxkg-Th.jpg" width="150" height="101" alt="Ruddles Mill Bridge, Bourbon County, March 7, 1953. Photo by Traugott Keller." title="Ruddles Mill Bridge, Bourbon County, March 7, 1953. Photo by Traugott Keller." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-06-14T05:41:28Z Melissa Jurgensen (CSIMelissa) http://csimelissa.smugmug.com http://csimelissa.smugmug.com/Covered-Bridges/Ruddles-Mill-Bridge/576030753/122951578_6Lxkg-Th.jpg <p><a href="http://csimelissa.smugmug.com">Melissa Jurgensen (CSIMelissa)</a><br />Photo courtesy L.K. Patton, Ph.D.</p><p><a href="http://csimelissa.smugmug.com/Covered-Bridges/Ruddles-Mill-Bridge/2318431_wnvTk#121243110_F277E" title="Photo courtesy L.K. Patton, Ph.D."><img src="http://csimelissa.smugmug.com/Covered-Bridges/Ruddles-Mill-Bridge/082/121243110_F277E-Th.jpg" width="150" height="105" alt="Photo courtesy L.K. Patton, Ph.D." title="Photo courtesy L.K. Patton, Ph.D." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-02-14T21:54:18Z Melissa Jurgensen (CSIMelissa) http://csimelissa.smugmug.com http://csimelissa.smugmug.com/Covered-Bridges/Ruddles-Mill-Bridge/082/121243110_F277E-Th.jpg <p><a href="http://csimelissa.smugmug.com">Melissa Jurgensen (CSIMelissa)</a><br />Photo courtesy L.K. Patton, Ph.D.</p><p><a href="http://csimelissa.smugmug.com/Covered-Bridges/Ruddles-Mill-Bridge/2318431_wnvTk#121243136_5grEf" title="Photo courtesy L.K. Patton, Ph.D."><img src="http://csimelissa.smugmug.com/Covered-Bridges/Ruddles-Mill-Bridge/083/121243136_5grEf-Th.jpg" width="150" height="105" alt="Photo courtesy L.K. Patton, Ph.D." title="Photo courtesy L.K. Patton, Ph.D." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-06-14T06:33:45Z Melissa Jurgensen (CSIMelissa) http://csimelissa.smugmug.com http://csimelissa.smugmug.com/Covered-Bridges/Ruddles-Mill-Bridge/083/121243136_5grEf-Th.jpg <p><a href="http://csimelissa.smugmug.com">Melissa Jurgensen (CSIMelissa)</a><br />July 1, 1964; a little over a month before the bridge's demise. Photo courtesy L.K. Patton, Ph.D.</p><p><a href="http://csimelissa.smugmug.com/Covered-Bridges/Ruddles-Mill-Bridge/2318431_wnvTk#121242630_2EdYS" title="July 1, 1964; a little over a month before the bridge's demise. Photo courtesy L.K. Patton, Ph.D."><img src="http://csimelissa.smugmug.com/Covered-Bridges/Ruddles-Mill-Bridge/070164RM/121242630_2EdYS-Th.jpg" width="150" height="103" alt="July 1, 1964; a little over a month before the bridge's demise. Photo courtesy L.K. Patton, Ph.D." title="July 1, 1964; a little over a month before the bridge's demise. Photo courtesy L.K. Patton, Ph.D." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-02-14T21:57:06Z Melissa Jurgensen (CSIMelissa) http://csimelissa.smugmug.com http://csimelissa.smugmug.com/Covered-Bridges/Ruddles-Mill-Bridge/070164RM/121242630_2EdYS-Th.jpg <p><a href="http://csimelissa.smugmug.com">Melissa Jurgensen (CSIMelissa)</a><br />Photo courtesy L.K. Patton, Ph.D.</p><p><a href="http://csimelissa.smugmug.com/Covered-Bridges/Ruddles-Mill-Bridge/2318431_wnvTk#121243267_74BZb" title="Photo courtesy L.K. Patton, Ph.D."><img src="http://csimelissa.smugmug.com/Covered-Bridges/Ruddles-Mill-Bridge/RM/121243267_74BZb-Th.jpg" width="150" height="102" alt="Photo courtesy L.K. Patton, Ph.D." title="Photo courtesy L.K. Patton, Ph.D." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-06-14T06:28:37Z Melissa Jurgensen (CSIMelissa) http://csimelissa.smugmug.com http://csimelissa.smugmug.com/Covered-Bridges/Ruddles-Mill-Bridge/RM/121243267_74BZb-Th.jpg <p><a href="http://csimelissa.smugmug.com">Melissa Jurgensen (CSIMelissa)</a><br />July 1, 1964; a little over a month before the bridge's demise. Photo courtesy L.K. Patton, Ph.D.</p><p><a href="http://csimelissa.smugmug.com/Covered-Bridges/Ruddles-Mill-Bridge/2318431_wnvTk#121242663_dG62A" title="July 1, 1964; a little over a month before the bridge's demise. Photo courtesy L.K. Patton, Ph.D."><img src="http://csimelissa.smugmug.com/Covered-Bridges/Ruddles-Mill-Bridge/070164RM2/121242663_dG62A-Th.jpg" width="150" height="103" alt="July 1, 1964; a little over a month before the bridge's demise. Photo courtesy L.K. Patton, Ph.D." title="July 1, 1964; a little over a month before the bridge's demise. Photo courtesy L.K. Patton, Ph.D." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-02-14T21:54:46Z Melissa Jurgensen (CSIMelissa) http://csimelissa.smugmug.com http://csimelissa.smugmug.com/Covered-Bridges/Ruddles-Mill-Bridge/070164RM2/121242663_dG62A-Th.jpg <p><a href="http://csimelissa.smugmug.com">Melissa Jurgensen (CSIMelissa)</a><br />August 15, 1964, two days after the bridge was arsoned. David Herrin Smart is seen in this photo looking through the remains of the bridge. Photo courtesy L.K. Patton, Ph.D.</p><p><a href="http://csimelissa.smugmug.com/Covered-Bridges/Ruddles-Mill-Bridge/2318431_wnvTk#121242739_2uQR5" title="August 15, 1964, two days after the bridge was arsoned. David Herrin Smart is seen in this photo looking through the remains of the bridge. Photo courtesy L.K. Patton, Ph.D."><img src="http://csimelissa.smugmug.com/Covered-Bridges/Ruddles-Mill-Bridge/081564DavidHerrinSmart/121242739_2uQR5-Th.jpg" width="150" height="116" alt="August 15, 1964, two days after the bridge was arsoned. David Herrin Smart is seen in this photo looking through the remains of the bridge. Photo courtesy L.K. Patton, Ph.D." title="August 15, 1964, two days after the bridge was arsoned. David Herrin Smart is seen in this photo looking through the remains of the bridge. Photo courtesy L.K. Patton, Ph.D." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-06-14T06:27:14Z Melissa Jurgensen (CSIMelissa) http://csimelissa.smugmug.com http://csimelissa.smugmug.com/Covered-Bridges/Ruddles-Mill-Bridge/081564DavidHerrinSmart/121242739_2uQR5-Th.jpg <p><a href="http://csimelissa.smugmug.com">Melissa Jurgensen (CSIMelissa)</a><br />David Herrin Smith (L) and Charles Robert Atkinson (R) August 15, 1964 Photo courtesy L.K. Patton, Ph.D.</p><p><a href="http://csimelissa.smugmug.com/Covered-Bridges/Ruddles-Mill-Bridge/2318431_wnvTk#121242792_VDYJj" title="David Herrin Smith (L) and Charles Robert Atkinson (R) August 15, 1964 Photo courtesy L.K. Patton, Ph.D."><img src="http://csimelissa.smugmug.com/Covered-Bridges/Ruddles-Mill-Bridge/081564DavidHerrinSmartCharlesR/121242792_VDYJj-Th.jpg" width="150" height="115" alt="David Herrin Smith (L) and Charles Robert Atkinson (R) August 15, 1964 Photo courtesy L.K. Patton, Ph.D." title="David Herrin Smith (L) and Charles Robert Atkinson (R) August 15, 1964 Photo courtesy L.K. Patton, Ph.D." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-06-14T06:24:56Z Melissa Jurgensen (CSIMelissa) http://csimelissa.smugmug.com http://csimelissa.smugmug.com/Covered-Bridges/Ruddles-Mill-Bridge/081564DavidHerrinSmartCharlesR/121242792_VDYJj-Th.jpg <p><a href="http://csimelissa.smugmug.com">Melissa Jurgensen (CSIMelissa)</a><br />Looking from the east bank. August 15, 1964 Photo courtesy L.K. Patton, Ph.D.</p><p><a href="http://csimelissa.smugmug.com/Covered-Bridges/Ruddles-Mill-Bridge/2318431_wnvTk#121242861_B5RMT" title="Looking from the east bank. August 15, 1964 Photo courtesy L.K. Patton, Ph.D."><img src="http://csimelissa.smugmug.com/Covered-Bridges/Ruddles-Mill-Bridge/081564Ebank/121242861_B5RMT-Th.jpg" width="150" height="115" alt="Looking from the east bank. August 15, 1964 Photo courtesy L.K. Patton, Ph.D." title="Looking from the east bank. August 15, 1964 Photo courtesy L.K. Patton, Ph.D." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-02-14T21:53:59Z Melissa Jurgensen (CSIMelissa) http://csimelissa.smugmug.com http://csimelissa.smugmug.com/Covered-Bridges/Ruddles-Mill-Bridge/081564Ebank/121242861_B5RMT-Th.jpg <p><a href="http://csimelissa.smugmug.com">Melissa Jurgensen (CSIMelissa)</a><br />Looking from the east bank. August 15, 1964 Photo courtesy L.K. Patton, Ph.D.</p><p><a href="http://csimelissa.smugmug.com/Covered-Bridges/Ruddles-Mill-Bridge/2318431_wnvTk#121242918_Bxdqs" title="Looking from the east bank. August 15, 1964 Photo courtesy L.K. Patton, Ph.D."><img src="http://csimelissa.smugmug.com/Covered-Bridges/Ruddles-Mill-Bridge/081564LookingEBank/121242918_Bxdqs-Th.jpg" width="150" height="116" alt="Looking from the east bank. August 15, 1964 Photo courtesy L.K. Patton, Ph.D." title="Looking from the east bank. August 15, 1964 Photo courtesy L.K. Patton, Ph.D." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-06-12T05:16:35Z Melissa Jurgensen (CSIMelissa) http://csimelissa.smugmug.com http://csimelissa.smugmug.com/Covered-Bridges/Ruddles-Mill-Bridge/081564LookingEBank/121242918_Bxdqs-Th.jpg <p><a href="http://csimelissa.smugmug.com">Melissa Jurgensen (CSIMelissa)</a><br />Looking from the east bank. August 15, 1964 Photo courtesy L.K. Patton, Ph.D.</p><p><a href="http://csimelissa.smugmug.com/Covered-Bridges/Ruddles-Mill-Bridge/2318431_wnvTk#121242971_JSeRf" title="Looking from the east bank. August 15, 1964 Photo courtesy L.K. Patton, Ph.D."><img src="http://csimelissa.smugmug.com/Covered-Bridges/Ruddles-Mill-Bridge/081564LookingfrmEast/121242971_JSeRf-Th.jpg" width="150" height="116" alt="Looking from the east bank. August 15, 1964 Photo courtesy L.K. Patton, Ph.D." title="Looking from the east bank. August 15, 1964 Photo courtesy L.K. Patton, Ph.D." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-06-12T05:11:48Z Melissa Jurgensen (CSIMelissa) http://csimelissa.smugmug.com http://csimelissa.smugmug.com/Covered-Bridges/Ruddles-Mill-Bridge/081564LookingfrmEast/121242971_JSeRf-Th.jpg <p><a href="http://csimelissa.smugmug.com">Melissa Jurgensen (CSIMelissa)</a><br />Looking from the west bank. August 15, 1964 Photo courtesy L.K. Patton, Ph.D.</p><p><a href="http://csimelissa.smugmug.com/Covered-Bridges/Ruddles-Mill-Bridge/2318431_wnvTk#121243009_dCwV9" title="Looking from the west bank. August 15, 1964 Photo courtesy L.K. Patton, Ph.D."><img src="http://csimelissa.smugmug.com/Covered-Bridges/Ruddles-Mill-Bridge/081564LookingWestBank/121243009_dCwV9-Th.jpg" width="150" height="115" alt="Looking from the west bank. August 15, 1964 Photo courtesy L.K. Patton, Ph.D." title="Looking from the west bank. August 15, 1964 Photo courtesy L.K. Patton, Ph.D." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-06-12T04:58:52Z Melissa Jurgensen (CSIMelissa) http://csimelissa.smugmug.com http://csimelissa.smugmug.com/Covered-Bridges/Ruddles-Mill-Bridge/081564LookingWestBank/121243009_dCwV9-Th.jpg <p><a href="http://csimelissa.smugmug.com">Melissa Jurgensen (CSIMelissa)</a><br />NW pier August 15, 1964 Photo courtesy L.K. Patton, Ph.D.</p><p><a href="http://csimelissa.smugmug.com/Covered-Bridges/Ruddles-Mill-Bridge/2318431_wnvTk#121243061_jXCJn" title="NW pier August 15, 1964 Photo courtesy L.K. Patton, Ph.D."><img src="http://csimelissa.smugmug.com/Covered-Bridges/Ruddles-Mill-Bridge/081564NWPier2/121243061_jXCJn-Th.jpg" width="150" height="115" alt="NW pier August 15, 1964 Photo courtesy L.K. Patton, Ph.D." title="NW pier August 15, 1964 Photo courtesy L.K. Patton, Ph.D." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-06-12T04:56:00Z Melissa Jurgensen (CSIMelissa) http://csimelissa.smugmug.com http://csimelissa.smugmug.com/Covered-Bridges/Ruddles-Mill-Bridge/081564NWPier2/121243061_jXCJn-Th.jpg <p><a href="http://csimelissa.smugmug.com">Melissa Jurgensen (CSIMelissa)</a><br />Two square nails salvaged from the smoldering remains of the Ruddles Mill bridge in August of 1964.</p><p><a href="http://csimelissa.smugmug.com/Covered-Bridges/Ruddles-Mill-Bridge/2318431_wnvTk#121688913_zorFi" title="Two square nails salvaged from the smoldering remains of the Ruddles Mill bridge in August of 1964."><img src="http://csimelissa.smugmug.com/Covered-Bridges/Ruddles-Mill-Bridge/RM-001/121688913_zorFi-Th.jpg" width="150" height="66" alt="Two square nails salvaged from the smoldering remains of the Ruddles Mill bridge in August of 1964." title="Two square nails salvaged from the smoldering remains of the Ruddles Mill bridge in August of 1964." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-02-14T21:17:31Z Melissa Jurgensen (CSIMelissa) http://csimelissa.smugmug.com http://csimelissa.smugmug.com/Covered-Bridges/Ruddles-Mill-Bridge/RM-001/121688913_zorFi-Th.jpg