236 feet, built 1909 (2nd longest, oldest bridge in NB)double span1908 original construction cost $5,439.001929
1929 Window was added due to "two bad curves in the roadway at each end of the bridge"
1932 roof reshingled at a cost of $500.001935 floor was repaired with 3inch planking1946 two new transom timbers to repair flooring
1949 68,000 shingles and 10 kegs of galvanized shingle nails used to repair roof
The Patrick Owens bridge was designed using the HOWE Truss design developed by William Howe and employed steel or iron rods to supplement the wooden truss. These rods had swollen threaded ends with nuts attached that could be loosened or tightened, thus tightening or lossening the rods. If a bridge began to sag the problem could easily be rectified in this way. The Howe truss design is seen in most of the covered bridges still standing in New Brunswick. The base is constructed of heavy chords and rested on timber projections, call corbels, on each abutment. The heavy chords are made of Douglas fir or white pine. Spruce or elm stringers were placed over the base lengthwise and a sub floor of boards, usually NB black spruce were placed diagonally. Then over all this the planking of the deck was laid. The planks were usually laid lengthwise, diagonally or in a herringbone pattern. The outside of the bridge is usually done with hemlock boards.
The Patrick Owens bridge has a square opening. in the original design was added later in 1929. The chief bridge engineer for the Province of New Brunswick when the Patrick Owens bridge was built was Andrew R. Wetmore, he served as chief engineer from 1894 to 1925.Mr. Owens was a farmer who lived in the house by the river and the market was on the other side of the river. To get there he had to travel around. Eventually he built a foot bridge to get across and then a larger bridge, and eventually a covered bridge was erected by the Province. Bridges were often named for the person who lived closest to the bridge.
At one time there were 4000 covered bridges in New Brunswick, now there are only 63. Rusagonis at one time had 4 in the community and this is the last one.
