“It’s not much different, we are just the smaller countryside bridges, compared to the steel bridges of Pittsburgh.”

While Greene County is just a short distance from Pittsburgh, PA, the bridges are a little different, according to Joanne Marshall, director of the Greene County Tourist Promotion Agency. Marshall explained that this unique difference is the idea behind the 49th annual Covered Bridge Festival, which is set for Sept. 21 and 22.

“The covered bridge festival is a series of festival sites across Greene and Washington county and we are in the 49th year of celebrating,” Marshall said. “Essentially, the Greene County Tourism Agency serves Greene county and Washington county together to advertise this festival and then each of the sites are run by independent organizations. But essentially the entire focus is of course celebrating covered bridges.”

The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on both days, with admission and parking free to those who attend.

With the timing of the event being consistent since the first festival, Marshall said  the date for this event was established during its founding with a purpose.

“49 years ago they chose it,” Marshall said. “They wanted to do this as a kind of ‘Welcome to Fall’ event but it has just become established and everyone knows the date.”

Marshall noted that these bridges are not seen as often as they used to be, mainly due to safety conditions and larger vehicles not being able to use them.

“Covered bridges are, especially nowadays with current traffic laws, they aren’t always feasible for trucks, trailers and heavy duty traffic,” Marshall said. “So covered bridges are starting to be taken down and modern bridges are replacing them. We are lucky that we still have seven that in the county that are still maintained by the county of Greene and the county government system.”

With a rich history in Greene County, the bridges were given an amusing nickname back in the day that has been passed down with each celebration.

“They used to be jokingly called ‘kissing bridges’ because that is where courting couples would take their horse and wagons or carriages and while they were under the bridge, that’s where they could sneak a kiss,” Marshall said.

Marshall noted that these bridges were not made just for kissing. However, many of the bridges were built with a specific purpose to their time in Greene County history.

“It was built in 1940 because there was a shortage of fuel at that time because of the war efforts,” Marshall said. “So you could build a wooden bridge that was just as good standing as a steel bridge. It also was a way to seek cover because it was of course a covered bridge with a roof. It did protect better against the elements.”

These bridges are seen as a staple of the area’s history, Marshall said. Celebrating them with the annual festival plays a main role in keeping that history alive.

“In many ways it has become our heritage and we want to keep going with it.”