BLOOMSBURG –The Columbia-Montour Visitors Bureau is thrilled to announce the arrival of their fourteenth annual Covered Bridge puzzle. The newest limited-edition puzzle showcases the Johnson Bridge in Columbia County. The new puzzles are now available for the general public on a first-come, first-served basis until sold out. Puzzles are sold for $18, tax included.  A $2 donation from every puzzle sold will be made by the Bureau to the Columbia County Covered Bridge Association.

Very small quantities of 2022 and 2023 puzzles (featuring the Parr’s Mill Covered Bridge and the Jud Christian Covered Bridge respectively) still remain available for purchase as well. Once the puzzles are sold out, they are never re-printed.

Puzzles may be purchased in person at the Visitors Bureau Welcome Center, located at 121 Papermill Road in Bloomsburg during normal business hours (Monday – Friday; 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM).  Puzzles are also available to be shipped anywhere in the continental United States for an additional shipping charge. Mail orders may be placed by calling the Welcome Center at 570-784-8279.

The 2024 Johnson Covered Bridge puzzle will also be available for purchase at the upcoming Covered Bridge & Arts Festival, held this coming October 3-6 at the Bloomsburg Fairgrounds. The Columbia-Montour Visitors Bureau booth will be located just inside the main festival entrance at Gate 3. The 2024 Festival hours will be as follows: Thursday – Saturday from 9 AM – 5 PM and Sunday from 9 AM – 4 PM.

This year’s puzzle photo was taken by Tony Berard, who was honored earlier this year as the 2024 Covered Bridge photo contest winner. The Johnson Covered Bridge was built in 1882 by Daniel Stine. Stine built this three-panel Queenpost truss bridge for approximately $750. The Johnson Bridge is 61 feet long and spans Mugser Run in Cleveland Township, just east of Knoebels Amusement Resort and west of Numidia. The bridge’s namesake is most likely Adam M. Johnson, a farmer who owned the land where the bridge is located. Johnson also owned a boot and shoe store near this site. It is believed that the bridge was originally built to provide a safer crossing of Mugser Run to reach his farm and store.