Myrtle Creek is a city located in Douglas County, Oregon between
Roseburg and Canyonville. Along the Interstate 5.
It was
first visited by settlers and gold seekers in the 1840's,and was
originally plotted by 1893. From its founding to the present
day, the area's greatest wealth has been its forests, which
continue to provide rich harvests. At the timber industry's
height, following World War II, there were 278 mills operating
in the county. One of these mill, Umpqua Forest Products, is now
the site of Horse Creek Bridge, in Millsite Park, the center of
attractions in Myrtle Creek.
Another story of salvation
for one of Oregon's covered bridges can be found in this 105 ft.
span which now passes through Myrtle Creek at Millsite Park. The
Horse Creek Covered Bridge was constructed in 1930 featuring the
Howe Truss Design. The bridge was located on Horse Creek Road in
the vicinity of the McKenzie River Bridge. The Horse Creek
Bridge was removed for salvage by Lane County in December of
1987 and given to the City of Cottage Grove. As Cottage Grove
had no intentions of reconstructing the bridge and Myrtle Creek
showed and interest in doing so, Cottage Grove gave the
structure to Myrtle Creek.
