John Irwin loved covered bridges. He could tell you about the 14 remaining in Alabama because he studied them extensively.

Visitors to Opelika's Museum of East Alabama can share Irwin's love of covered bridges in a display of models he has created plus photographs. Irwin lived in Shawmut, a mechanical contractor by trade. Irwin was a skilled woodworker and electrician and built the models as a hobby. One of his favorite bridges is the Salem-Shotwell bridge in Lee County which he re-created in wood. The model took him several months to build and is one of six that the museum has on display.

The Shotwell-Salem bridge was destroyed by a fallen tree and the Opelika Kiwanis Club has recently had the bridge reconstructed at Opelika Municipal Park on 5th Ave.