GPS: 40.869935,-86.825847
1 East approach, south wall
2 South face
3 South face, upstream
4 south face
5 Big Monon Creek looking downstream
Here are a few more pictures of this bridge.
The plaque reads: SMITH BRIDGE CO. TOLEDO OHIO
What happen to the new bridge? Why did the work on the new bridge stop? I drive over the old one all the time and am afraid that it will fall. The bridge on the Ohio River in porterfield and parkersburg WV. is done now and it started after they did. So what is the hold up?
everyone on this page does need to grow up a bit.
i recently visited this bridge, it is not new, it was built in 1908. 4 people have dies, a young man jumped off the bridge one night after an enochs party, which always involves alcohol. a young boy fell off the bridge a VERY long time ago when the bridge was still ver unstable, the hole in which he fell through can still be seen, although there have been many attempts to cover it up. recently in 2005, a man was killed at the bridge by a few teenagers. the teens were visiting the bridge, the man was supposedly making meth somewhere near the bridge, the teens saw him and what he was doing, he gave them a hard time, possibly threating them, so, they killed him, they left him under the bridge for a few days, then came back and burned him under a car.
if you go here late at night many odd things will happen, dogs barking, although no dogs live any where near by, they start very far away and in a matter of seconds are surrounding you from all directions, no dogs can be seen unless "demondog" is chanted three times.
This bridge no longer exists,
it has been replaced with a new bridge.
I guess Parke County has made a hard decision to replace the Jeffries Ford with a modern concrete structure due to funds falling short. They tried hard for funds, then the nearby Bridgeton Bridge which was scenic world famous was burned three years later. Major efforts and funding went to rebuild the Bridgeton Bridge which was for pedestrians only and was completed on October 1, 2006. The difference is the Jeffries Ford was for vehicles, the arson closed the road, and building a modern vehicular covered bridge is more costly and residents had to take a longer detour. Jesse Payne who burned the Bridgeton, attempted to burn the Mansfield, and a person of interest for this bridges arson is still in a mental institution said to be unable to stand trial still as far as I know. A modern concrete bridge would be built not because the Jeffries Ford Bridge was removed by county, but because somebody destroyed it! I wish a modern covered bridge could have been built, but I understand and I'm okay with the countys decision if thats still what they want to do.
There is a modern bridge, which replaced the old state bridge. There was a Lodge there, which burned down earlier this year (2007), but the cabin that Teddy Roosevelt stayed in still survived. You can see some of the old timbers which formed the bridge on the North Bank, as well as the concrete support structures still in place in the river.
FYI Just heard on the news that this bridge has been closed to all traffic until further notice for repairs. I hope they don't tear it down. It seems they are trying to fix it, but the cost could be over $50,000.00.
My Great-Grandfather helped build this bridge.
Well, I guess I'll be the first one to tell the Jackson Bridge was apparently rehabilitated again in 2007! The bridge was in fair condition when I saw it last. This is the LONGEST SINGLE(ONE) SPAN covered bridge still in use in the United States. Such a massive single wooden span was built over 140 years ago before many iron truss bridges were. I can't imagine working like this bridges builder JJ Daniels did. The Jackson Bridge is one of my favorite covered bridges and I can't wait until I see it next.
Here's photos of the Sewall Falls Bridge taken Oct 2, 2007
Here are a couple of photos taken Oct 4, 2007 of this bridge. It was so grown over I couldn't get a better shot.
Here are a couple of photos taken Oct 4, 2007 of this bridge. It was so grown over I couldn't get a better shot.
Tried to send the images but preview didn't work!
This bridge is known locally as Goat Man's Bridge.
Beware the Goat Man !
Now a paired bridge over the Wabash River, US 52 (Sagamore Parkway) crosses from the west bluffs to the built up roadway on the east flood plain.
East bound bridge GPS: 40.451515,-86.894093
West bound bridge GPS: 40.451707,-86.894077
1 both bridges (south-right) is the eastbound bridge
2 deck truss abutments on the west bluff
3 trusses setting on the piers
4 truss span
5 under the deck
6 truss spans on the east shore
1912
Alvin C. Baker
George Shelby
Grant Holwerda
County Commissioners
Built by
Lafayette Engineering Co.
GPS: 40.495477,-86.823299
1 4 spans (north face from the east) notice traffic lights to control two-way traffic on a single lane bridge.
2 east span (1 of 4)
3 East approach
4 Dedication plaque
5 Single lane traffic
6 Joint closeup
View attachment #4 (empty, 0 bytes)
North 3rd Street in downtown Logansport. The bridge had a noticeable collapse of the west central spans side wall. The span seems to have survived and repairs were made to the side wal. The concrete arch is more pronounced now that it's been exposed by the collapse of the side wall.
GPS: 40.756214,-86.368353
1 looking upstream at the west face
2 downstreamside (west face)repairs
3 Dedication plaque
4 cement rails
5 looking downstream (east face)
6 repairs on the railing after it failed
I travel this bridge about every week, but not going across the river but under it.
The lighting is very poor & does NOT meet the CFR permit that goes with it. The lights are not always lit as suppose to be. The bridge is hit every year when high water in the spring season in part of the dim lighting that marking the bridge.
The boats that travel under the bridge have to use 2 very bright lights on board to see the peirs & blind the cars & trucks going over that bridge, that could make for a very bad problem for people travling the bridge.
Although the bridge was replaced in 1960, part of the old bridge can still be seen in the water below the new bridge. The new bridge is every bit as lovely and endearing as the more historical M&NA bridge. Many family portraits and other memories have been made standing on the new bridge.
I apologize for the mis-information. I was browsing under" 1913 flood in Hamilton ,Oh" and up comes a site that said that all of the bridges were destroyed in the flood. (High Street, Black Street, Columbia, and 2(two) railroad bridges. No dates were given but I am almost certain that info was given in the book on the Miami Conservancy. Sorry bout that.
bg
Aditional Images
Bridge Plate
I remember this old bridge real good . It Was A buteful sight untill the colaps . My father was passing by at the time of the church groups visit. He said he could not belve it you Actualy could see the entire middle bottom from the new highway bridge. He said the bottom was center the drivers side widow on his s10 pickup. he almost got to Wilburn when the call came in the Winkley bridge had colapsed. This was sutch A shame just pure Vandilism of A historic place. We travled back up there just 4 Days after it fell . I took 3 rolls of film photographing the distruction . The Steel cables only the top 3 rows showed any rust the others still sparkeled new .The old wooden deck just the top layer like A pice of construction paper was detorated. The center looked brand new. The tower on the boat dock side where it colapsed first looked like A tornado had twisted it .The stress fractures still sparkled where the steel had stretched to it limits. The deck support bolts and steel suports were just barely rusted .If this bridge would have underwent A light sand blast it would have looked new Again . I always remember the comunity kept it well maintained if A bord was loose in just A matter of days it was fixed. Remember one word could have saved them and this pice of history the word STOP!!! But nobody said it and now this sight has los its beauty and is A place of Morning for those Who died !
Remember the victims always so this will never happen Again.
I am from Van Buren and I have a picture that my mother took of this bridge which is almost identical to this postcard. I have a lot of memories of this old bridge. Van Buren what a wonderful place.
Pictures taken 7-08-07
lost in 2005
In 1974,I use to take my small boat into the span late at night, with a 3kt current running. When the span was opening, I would place my boat below the counter weights, as the bridge opened the wieghts would lower and stop about 3' from the waters surface. My friends would typically be Stoned to the bone, and the counter wieghts would totally freak them.
I will miss the old bridge.
T.C.
Well another bites the dust.
I grew up listening to the cars crossing the steel mesh of the span. To this day this sound brings back a flood of memories.
I eventualy was the dock master of Beach Marine located on both side s of the bridge.
This Bridge was called the Mcormick Bridge.
Tim
There is a book called "The Miami Conservancy" that covers all of the flood prevention measures after the 1913 flood. as I recall , the hamilton railroad was the only bridge left standing after the flood and it's history was pretty well covered. I found this book in the Hamilton City Library and it covers everything from Dayton south on the Miami river. It is extremely interesting.
B.G.
The Bourne Bridge Spans The Cape Cod Canal & Someone's Yard! That Is The Funniest Thing I Have Heard Of In My Life!
ummm...you all are gay...have you even been there? i mean its old, made in 1908! 4 people on record have died on it, and its haunted...IVE SEEN SHIT ON THAT BRIDGE!!!
According to the locals we met there on a recent trip, Silver Bridge should be reopened by Oct. 15. The repair to the piers has been completed, and all the work crews have left is to resurface the pavement on the bridge. Hopefully, this pretty bridge will soon be back in service!
Visited this bridge today, and I am sad to say that it is gone. The bridge can't be accessed from the west side (somebody gated off the road-which is closed anyway). The east entrance is heavily grown up with trees, but a person can walk right up to where the bridge used to be. The rock retaining walls where the ends of the bridge sat are still visible on each side of the river, but that is all that is left.
10/05/07 4 span bridge
10/5/07 3 span bridge.
10/05/07
10/5/07 Remote location. Lots of graffiti.
10/05/07 Remote site
Photos 10/5/07. Neighbor told us bridge was closed about a year ago after a flood. In beautiful location.
Visited Sep. '07. If correct bridge the town of Augusta is on the north end of bridge.
Visited bridge Sep. '07. Side view from new bridge just upriver, afternoon shot would be better.
I may have messed up on this bridge. It is probably the one of the only ones of this type that has ever been around here. I heard the late New Trenton Bridge was actually a three-span Pratt through truss. Again, I hope this bridge can be preserved. I'd say the best time of year to take a picture would be fall or winter when there are no leaves.
A good number of photos of this bridge may be found at the Chattanooga Hamilton County Regional Library, some on-line with several showing the bridge before construction of the Chickamauga Dam just up-stream. That dam was dedicated in 1939 by Pres. Roosevelt.
When I was very young and remember steam trains, I recall talking with the bridge tender who resided on the North side of the river near the approach to the bridge. When he was called upon to raise the lift span for river boat traffic, he walked out onto the bridge and climbed a ladder system to the control room situated in the structure above the counterweight. I recall the Delta Queen steam boat cruising up-stream through the gap and into the dam lock for trips to Knoxville.
I recall seeing the Southern Railway double tracking the bridge and during WW-II, many US military were posted as guards on the bridge and the dam. Tripple A was also posted but was under camo.
I lived in Illinois and worked for wohl shoe co on washington ave and use to drive that bridge everyday was a dime toll as I recall. I loved that bridge and Mc A that came out at the dog food co checker board square i think. anyway just a note we all love the bridge
This bridge is near my house and is due to be replaced with a two lane concrete structure. here's a link to a picture I took of it. There are several others linked from that page.
Looking North. 2003
GPS: 39.202250,-86.869440
1 south side
2 east approach
3 steel angle
4 truss joint
5 north side
6 east approach
GPS: 39.039697, -87.401929
Going on 50 and still in good shape.
Visited this bridge in November (Thanksgiving weekend) 2006
This is a fine example of a pratt deck truss!! It's current rating is 75.8. It was redecked in 1984. Located by robinson and near a railroad trestle and lost bridge. ENJOY!!
These are some pics of a deck pratt truss that is in a1 condition.It was built in 1948.current rating of 75.8. The original deck was replaced in 1984 to eliminate the drainage holes in the old deck.It's ID is #5718. Currently in use.It is located in sandstone,MN on hwy123 over the kettle river.
That is nice. They have a wooden pony truss in Jasper, GA that this bridge reminds me of.
This is really a neat bridge and very aesthetic!! It is good that it was preserved and not demolished!! Great pic!!
What a unique part of our shared past for those who grew up in Des Arc in the mid-20th century! We loved it. We feared it. When two loaded trucks or buses came headlight to headlight in the center section, we'd watch while one driver had to back down to the passing point just before the center section. One could observe (from any of several vantage points in town) the downward sway beneath the two heavy loads. In such a small town, that was some real excitement -- at least it seemed so to me as a girl of 10ish. That also speaks to how little traffic was on the bridge at any given time back in the good ole days. Thanks for the memories. -Judy Coker Andrews, DAHS class of 1958
Known locally as the 'Memorial Bridge', it's construction is part of the design for the George Rogers National Memorial located at it's southeast corner (in Vincennes, Indiana).
This is a spectacular bridge, that is once you get down on the river. It literally soars across the river valley.
I crossed this bridge on 9/30/07 in my big truck with a load of steel gross weight 78,000 lbs. If another similar weighted truck had been behind me I would have instructed the driver to stay at least one span behind.
Just thought I would add that I suppose this bridge could be bought. Its laying in a field just inside the city limits of Pottsville. I heard a rumor once that the owner of Galla Creek Golf Course was was going to purchase it and put it over a creek on the course. That did'nt happen for whatever reason, but it's still laying out in that field, rusting away, along with its ghost story.
I,m 67 yrs old and remember this bridge as if it were yesterday. I walked and rode across this bridge many times in my boyhood. as a boy i use to have night mares falling off it and would wake up just before hitting the water. I will never forget this experience. I'll never understand why this bridge was not saved as a land mark.
I visited this bridge on 30 September 2007. There are survey markers in the vicinity which seem to indicate the bridge will eventually be removed to make way for a new 4-Lane US 65.
if it is functionally obsolete why not fix it so noone has to be hurt or killed before you do smoething??????????????????
You're right, it really is something completely different. It's so decorative and relatively elaborate. I wonder why they bothered with such an elaborate wooden structure in what seems like a relatively remote area. If it was down-town, I could see it, but out there...why bother? Interesting.
Something completely different ! Very nice !
I'm amazed to see photos of this bridge on the internet! I rode over it in uncle's old truck, walked over it on foot while hunting, and fished from it during summers back in the '50s. Didn't know it was still there.
It really did'nt surprise me that they dismantled this bridge and replaced with more or less just a road across a creek. Arkansas, in my opinion doesnt have a very good track record on saving historical places for future generations.
The 421 Bridge was replaced 7 or 8 years ago. Sorry!
I used to live on 440 West at 350 North and the bridge was a half mile away(Straightline GPS). I could hear the boards rattling on the North span in my living room with the tv on and the doors and windows closed everytime a vehicle crossed! Indeed loud. Still scary when I would see one of the county's dump trucks cross. I believe if it wasn't for the "Iron Bridges Festival" in Miami County started a few years ago, this bridge would be closed. I remember several years before the festival was around when they had replaced the deck, the comment was made that this would be the last time. Not long after, the holes returned(thanks arsonist's) and the street signs were put in to patch it. It was at least partially redecked last year(2006) according to my cousin who still lives in the old house. Great place for Canoe trip launches, as many have used this spot for years for this and easily accessible fishing areas. I was suprized when the bridge survived horrible flooding in the late 1990's that had water within a foot of the decking supports. I have seen the limestone block piers survive bad ice gorges as well thanks to the iron mounted on the upstream side of the piers. Quite a bridge!
This is bridge from which the baby dubbed the "Iron Mountain Baby" was tossed. For more information on this story, please see:
09/28/07 Just reopened this past week - new paint job. Just west of this bridge you can see, when trees are bare, abutments of former Cutler covered bridge (on 500S -closed going west from hwy 75).
Bridge still open to traffic. Just north of hwy 218 east of Camden, In. Good photo ops. Wooden deck, low load limit.
09/28/07 Visited this bridge today for photo ops. Newly repainted and abutments rebuilt. Easy to find 1/2 mile south of St hwy 218, just east of Camden, In. Scenic setting.
You are correct that this bridge is scheduled for replacement in 2009. The pictures attached below illustrate the damage to the structure from overdimension loads and general deterioration with age. The last two photos are attached to illustrate the condition of the rock bluff under the south abutment. If you look closely in the two photos you can see the variance in color in the horizontal layers. Some of the layers have variances in density and durability in addition to color. Unfortunately there is a soft layer very close to the normal flow of the creek directly under the bridge, which results in an abutment that will eventually be undermined by the creek. The bridge will be removed and replaced at the same location. The new south abutment will be approximately 20 feet further back to accomodate long term erosion of the bluff. The 50 people that attended the public meeting were unanimous in their desire to see a new bridge that is wider than the current 20 foot deck. The new bridge will be 32 feet in width.
Building a new bridge on the south side.
View looking west.
Old and new
The ols girl is gone. I'll miss her.
I remember this bridge from my youth, as we went this way to go to Caney to visit my Grandparents. I remembered it being very narrow, but cool nonetheless. Glad someone had a photo of it.
This bridge closed "indefinitely" at 3:00pm on Tuesday, September 26, 2007.
Living a few hours away, we go over this bridge 2 -3 times a year on motorcycle trips.
It's a fantastic looking bridge, so as a pro photographer, I created a fine landscape photo of it in it's present condition.
Note my buddy's bike on his trailer behind the silver truck. He's on the left AND the right bridge deck.Gee, how'd that happen?
Enjoy!
Rob of the Springs, CO.
This bridge must be in the middle of Camp Atterbury. I never could find exactly where the bridge is or if the public even has access to it.
This bridge means so much to me. This was where my grandfather first took me fishing. Mostly because he said we would catch something lol. He was always right! They were small but they were something. They have really started cleaning up the area around the bridge now and posted no dumping signs. The grafiti is kinda neat and a lot of history, but other damages like kicking out boards and fires is really a disgrace. I wish they would put the historic sign back up which was knocked down or stolen a few years ago.
Charles,
I am deligently working on this bridge. It was built in 1898 the first bridge built across the Petit Jean River in Logan County. It was first known as the Thomas Bridge because at that location it was known as the Evan Thomas crossing or ford. I have the bridge contract, blue prints and a complete history of this bridge; now just looking for a photograph. My wife & I are going out this week to put a sign on the bridge that now exist that will read as follows: WANTED: PHOTOGRAPH OF OLD THOMAS ROAD BRIDGE, ALSO KNOWN AS THE KILBURN BRIDGE. With a way to contact me. Will keep in touch.
Thanx,
GHOSTBRIDGEHUNTER
I'm surprised there are no comments about these fine bridges in Joliet. The bridges and the river give Joliet Illinois real character. It was a fascinating place to grow up as a child. The best thing ever?....getting stopped by one of the bridges when a pusher went by. "Mom?....get closer so I can see!" Even better?....getting stopped by both a bridge AND a train in the same car trip. Another great aspect was in winter time especially around Christmas. Ridng through downtown Joliet all decorated for Christmas and steam coming off of the river. The stacks of the pusher boats passing by downtown behind the levee wall of the river. The old buildings with their 100 years worth of character. You can't beat it. Very warm place to live.
Photos taken 9-16-2007
Photos taken 2/3/07, after it had been rebuilt.
The resident engineer was Nelson Turner, and the contractor was Guy James Construction Co. It took about 9 months to construct, and was reportedly the longest bridge in Oklahoma at the time it was built.
I was born in Tuscumbia in 1956 (we lived in Rocky Mount) and since the Osteopathic Clinic was the closest medical facility, a drive across the bridge was inevitable. I have watched as the old Zebra bridge was replaced with a modern 4-lane (many of the old Lake area bridges have been lost to accomodate the increase in traffic), and my husband and I saw the last section of the Boonville Hwy 5 bridge demolished. Is there no way to save some of the older bridges? Isn't it worth a the extra expense to restore a historic structure than to lose it save a few pictures and memories? Many people look at historic bridges, buildings etc. as direct links to the past; OUR past.
Here are two photos I took in August 2007. It's a small bridge and still in good shape.
I was there last weekend (9-15-07) and in places, it looks as if the deck *may* be beginning to fall apart underneath. The only thing I noted at street level was a slight gap between the end of the birdge and the roadway. I walked across the bridge a couple times and it felt solid.
This bridge may be old but it is sound!
The new Hernando DeSoo Memphis bridge carring Interstate 40 Trafic was just shut down for over nine hours on 8-27-07 because A pier on the Arkansas approach sank nearly 4 inches during construction.
I feel Newer is not Always better. They do not build bridges with pride like in the eaerly 1900's and thus they canot withstand any lane additions . You know as well contractors get bonues for coming under budget or faster buildg of the structure. So the job is just minimum. This bridge will still be standing probably 33 yaers from now if it is maintaned and will be nearly 100 years old.
The replacement bridge seems to utilize the original piers, although they have been built up to place the new bridge higher.
I remember this bridge from the late 1960's. I really can't fathom why it was replaced. There is now this huge wide 2 lane concrete bridge there now, and just past it, the road reverts to a primitive dirt road. Surely the traffic out there does not warrant the expense of the new bridge that replaced the wonderful old bridge. Another rare unique bridge that can only be remembered in our minds and photographs.
While the listing above says "preserved", this is being kind. The bridge sits behind locked gates on private property now, and there is no attempt to "preserve" it. Rather it is more correct to say it is not "demolished". It would be nice if this bridge were accessable to the public for photography or pedestrian use, as part of a walking trail or something. I remember driving across it when it was open.
This bridge just got a yellow flag in NYS inspections. Not sure about repair schedule.
This bridge just got a red flag from NYS inspectors; apparently there are cracks in the trusses. Being fixed this week.
I hear that there is repair work being done on the bridge to get it reopened. I hope this is true.
While I am no engineer, yesterday I was at the Woolsey bridge, and there is no visible metal deterioration above the deck whatsoever. If there is deterioration in the metal structure, then it must be in the floor beams and stringers, but where the floor beams meet the verticles at the pin-connections they look fine to me. I wish I had looked underneath. Sighting down the bridge, the bridge is level and the deck is nice and level, no evidence of shifting at all. Walking across, the deck is smooth and in pretty good shape. The newspaper article linked in previous post states that it will cost between 1.2 million to 1.7 million dollars to repair or replace the bridge. I really fail to see why it would cost that much, even if the floor beams and stringers would have to be replaced and a new deck poured (the deck is concrete). This is a very historic bridge, one of the few remaining multi-span thru-trusses left in the state. Everything possible should be done to preserve it. It is on a minor road, light traffic.
The Lobato (Costilla Crossing) Bridge has been restored and rededicated in May of 2006.
Born and raised in SE Missouri and living in Charleston, I can't count how many times I have gone over that bridge. My great grandfather help build the bridge and told me there was a guy buried in the concrete (don't know if its true or not).
Day or night, its a scary bridge, but it's the bridge I grew up with and have great memories of trips going over it. Whether to go shopping at Paducah or coming home from Georgia. The day my son was born, his grandfather was caught on the Kentucky side because of bridge construction on the Ohio Bridge and missed his birth. Try driving a combine over the bridge!! Thats not fun either. All traffic must stop. Actually, its not the bridges that bother me or that terrible curve coming off of the Ohio Bridge into Kenucky, but on the Missouri side of HWY 60 on the levy road. I don't travel that at night anymore. I think someone else said, there aren't any lights at night on those bridges and yes, its very dark driving over them.
it is right down by ups
Pictures taken 9-16-2007
