HONEY RUN
Butte Creek
1886: First bridge constructed.
1894: Bridge washed out.
1896: New replacement bridge completed.
April 12, 1916: "Honey Run Grade closed beginning Monday, April 10. Honey Run grade will be closed for a few days on account of bridge and culvert work." (Chico Record)
September 25, 1941: "The Butte County Federation of Womens Clubs will ask the Butte County Supervisors to preserve the historic covered bridge on the Honey Run Grade, between Chico and Paradise, as a landmark.
The resolution petitioning the supervisors to take this action was signed by Mrs. R.G. Gotthold, president; Mrs. H. Clewett of Paradise and Mrs. Rose Ruff." (The Sacramento Bee)
April 24, 1947: "A few of the most drastic load limits to be decreed by the county on recommendation of the engineers are those at the Honey Run Bridge, a covered historic relic.
Recommended limits are 3,000 pounds, a speed limit of five miles per hour and one way traffic." (The Sacramento Bee)
April 26, 1949: "Mrs. Henrietta Toothaker of Woodland, grand vice president of the Native Daughters of the Golden West, officiated at ceremonies placing a marker at the historic Honey Run covered bridge over Butte Creek, near Chico. The bridge was built 53 years ago to replace one washed away." (The Sacramento Bee)
April 13, 1965: "A covered bridge built in 1894 as part of a stage coach route collapsed Monday when a station wagon rammed its side.
The station wagon landed on a bank of Butte Creek, but neither of two occupants was hurt seriously.
The Honey Run covered bridge, one of the last such structures in California, was located about five miles east of Chico.
The 300-foot wooden bridge crashed into the shallow creek." (Eureka Humboldt Standard)
April 13, 1965: "County officials are concerned about the disastrous fate of the prized Honey Run Bridge, one of the last covered bridges in the west.
A car slammed into one of the bridge's south abutments yesterday, lopping off 100 feet of the 400 foot span. It and the car fell into Butte Creek, but no one was hurt.
The car's occupants scrambled out of the car, made it through the heavy planks and onto the creek bank.
The bridge was built in 1894. Few of its stout planks ever have had to be replaced." (The Fresno Bee The Republican)
March 22, 1967: Ad: "HELP! Help Save the Covered Bridge! Drop any General Mills or Betty Crocker coupons you wish to donate towards saving this famous Butte Co. Landmark into special boxes at the Wentz Market nearest you. All coupons donated will be used by the Honey Run Bridge Restoration Assn. to keep this old-time bridge from being destroyed." (Marysville Appeal-Democrat)
May 8, 1968: "An attempt by a committee of interested citizens to restore the historic Honey Run covered bridge, which crosses Butte Creek near Paradise, ran into a road block during a meeting of the Butte County Board of Supervisors.
Clyde Bybee, a Paradise attorney, appeared before the board yesterday to report the Honey Run Covered Bridge Association has collected $7,000 to be used in restoration work.
He suggested that the board add to that sum the $5,000 that was collected from an insurance company in payment for damages to the structure and that the county department of public works perform the work.
Bybee said it was the intention of the association, once the work was completed, to ask the Paradise Recreation District to take over the maintenance of the bridge and the county=owned right-of-way property adjacent to it and to use it as a park and tourist attraction.
The supervisors refused on the ground such action would put the board in the field of recreation which is opposed to board policy.
Board members suggested that the association meet with the recreation district, offer that body the $7,000 and ask the district's trustees to take over the restoration project." (The Sacramento Bee)
March 8, 1969: "A Garden Club project is restoration of the antiquated Honey Run bridge on the Centerville road near Chico, Mrs. Eva Mae Thompson of Chico, Cascade District secretary, explained that Betty Crocker coupons are being collected to help finance the project. The goal is to collect one million coupons, having a redemption value of $5,000. This bridge is the only one of its kind in the United States, although there are other covered bridges, she said. It is planned to purchase surrounding grounds for a park and recreational area." (Red Bluff Daily News)
August 19, 1976: "Because of increased vandalism to the Honey Run Covered Bridge near Chico in recent weeks, caretakers are asking for public assistance in identifying and apprehending those responsible.
This week a 27-year-old bronze plaque designating the bridge as a historical landmark was pried loose from its moorings and stolen, authorities reported.
In recent weeks boards from the bridge have been kicked loose, fire have been started on the flooring and lighting devises have been damaged.
In addition, an increasing amount of litter has been left at the site.
Harvey Johnson, past president of the Honey Run Covered Bridge Association, has asked that anyone sighting vandals report the activities to the caretakers who live in a mobile home just west of the bridge." (The Sacramento Bee)
June 8, 1979: "A 532-acre fire in Butte Creek Canyon four miles east of Chico was controlled at 8 a.m. after threatening the 83-year-old Honey Run Covered Bridge, one of four covered bridges still standing in California." (Santa Cruz Sentinel)
1988: Placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
November 8, 2018: The bridge a total loss after being over run by the Camp Wildfire.