This bridge was built in 1904 by the Converse Bridge Company of Chattanooga, Tenn.
Mr. Converse had a working relationship with the Pan American Bridge Co. of New Castle (He would eventually become the head engineer for Pan Am), and the trusses for this bridge may have been manufactured by them. It remains closed with an uncertain future.
Webmaster's note: The photo that was here has been incorporated into the main site.
Just cruising the INTERNET picking up information on the floods affecting Independence, Kansas.
My Family lived there from 1963 to 1968.
One of my brothers and myself (on a mutual dare) walked across the TOP of this bridge (on the bows) to the other side.
Back then....it was known simply as the "Old Condemned Bridge".
Someone spotted us...and called the police, we were nearly on the other side when they arrived...and we hurried to get across when they starting shouting at us.
Once across, we ran quite a long way up the river to the old spillway where we crossed back over.
We then made our way through the woods back to our home at Myrtle and East Second street. My mother would have skinned us alive had she ever found out about that stupid stunt.
Independence was a great town to live in, in those days gone by.
JMM
Oops.....sorry
you'll have to cock your head sideways to look at that truss detail pic.
This early(1911) rivited span is a product of the Brookville Bridge Company of Brookville, Ohio. The bridge was restored a few years back. You used to be able to see this bridge from SR46, But the highway was relocated and now it can be tricky to find.
Webmaster's note: The photos that were here have been incorporated into the main site.
Nice little riveted thru truss that has been restored. Don't know who the builder was, but it's interesting to note that this bridge carries markings from 3 steel companies- Cambria, J&L, and Illinois.
Webmaster's note: The photo that was here has been incorporated into the main site.
Photos taken 06/23/07. Bridge has a full wooden deck, in good condition. There is a dam and ruins of an old mill just downstream; I included a shot of the bridge from the millrace. There are also remains of piers from another bridge downstream of the dam, though I don't know their history.
Photos taken 06/23/07. Steel has Carnegie mark--hard to read in picture. Main span has concrete deck, but approaches have wooden planks. This bridge is in regular use as access to the Boy Scout camp at Brown Memorial Park.
Photos taken March, 2007. Visible from Highway 18, a short way east of Zeandale.
Replaced--2006?
On Carlson Rd.; photos taken 06/20/07.
Visited this bridge last week - June 2007 - still open to traffic.
I have many fond memories of going to the Cape via this bridge. Looking at the picture brings back many memories of going there with my parents and another family we were (and still are) friends with. I used to think of the Cape as being heavenly because of the wonderful smells of the ocean and the atmosphere of the quaint cottage in brewster we would stay in. This bridge was always a wecoming sight for me after miles of the seemingly interminable I-495 and then Rte. 25. It was followed by the welcoming letters that said "CAPE COD" made out of bushes in the middle of the rotary that appeared right after the bridge
around the mid 1960's when I was Ayoung boy my brothers and sisters and myself would swim under this bridge sometimes joined by our cousins who lived in Fairfield some of my best memories were made in this small comunity.
This bridge was originally built in 1886 as the Cincinnati Southern Railway bridge. Originally built to 5 foot (1524 mm) broad gauge as the Cincinnati Southern Railway, the line was converted to standard gauge, 4 ft 8½ in (1435 mm), in 13 hours in 1886. It was rebuilt to its present form in 1920. The rounded pier at the north end was part of the original structure.
After it was converted to standard gauge, the railroad was renamed the Cincinnati, New Orleans and Texas Pacific Railway (CNO&TP). The railroad and the bridge were built and are still owned by the City of Cincinnati. It was operated by the Southern Railway, now part of the Norfolk Southern Railway system.
In 1886, in a newspaper article about the first trip down the new line, a Cincinnati reporter wrote that he was riding on the Chattanooga Choo Choo. This was the first use of the alliterative phrase which became the famous Glenn Miller song, written by Harry Warren and Mack Gordon.
Today the bridge is home to the rare peregrine falcon. Since 1997, they have nested atop the counter weight on the south tower. This is one of only two nesting pairs in Tennessee and makes the bridge a hot spot with local birdwatchers.
Alright, ive been trying to get back on here for a while now, but i have been having computer problems, sorry about the false report. We drove all the way up to it and i supose the first time we checked. all the construction equipment was further from the bridge than expected and since it was storming that night. I couldnt see the bridge even though i got out. but i have been since and it looks to be that they just corrected some problems with the entrance to the bridge, sorry once again, next time i report anything ill give it a few months to keep an eye on stuff. Have a good day....
As a kid we would have dad drive us to the bridge to look at the black river and the rock garden below. Mom would always come but did not necessarily like driving over the bridge. This was 35 years ago. The new bridge is a nicely constructed bridge. However, removing the old bridge took a little history away from Lesterville and Reynolds county. What a shame.
I am from around Frankfort but now reside in Elkhart In. Anyway I walked the bridge two summers ago it is a cool place to visit if ya like this kinda stuff!! Thanks for the pictures. I hope others will take the time to look at them.
We crossed this bridge going deer hunting on the White River north of Des Arc every year (traveling from Marked Tree). It was the highlight of the trip for me as a youngster. I was just showing this picture of the swing bridge to my daughter and reminiscing about old times.
please post this photo taken in winter of 2006
View attachment #1 (Microsoft Office Document, 8639488 bytes)
Photo taken in the winter of 2006
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Bridge is on 230th St, between Meadowlark & Prairie Creek
On 180th St, between Meadowlark & Indianola. Photo taken 5/18/07.
Rocky Fork Rd, just NW of the jct w/Rain Rock Rd. This is just a little bit N of OH-79, near the town of Rocky Fork. I believe that creek is also named Rocky Fork.
FYI: Putnam County is the only county that has all of its covered bridges functional and which can all be driven over.
This bridge replaced a ferry between Newport and Jamestown, RI. I have many memories of the ferry, including more than once rounding the bend in Jamestown trying to catch a certain ferry and seeing it pulling out of the slip!
In 2001 beautiful lights were placed on the spans for nightime illumination. My daughter once told me that the arches of the Roman Baths were as high as the arches in the uprights of this bridge.
Updating the info about the Cattle Bridge that was between Railroad Bridge 3 & 4, it was demolished in November of 1974.
This bridge has now been replaced by a LARGE concrete bridge. Anyone with pictures should post!
Photo taken June 17, 2007.
Single lane bridge over SCL railroad bed. Photos taken June 17, 2007.
Photo taken June 16, 2007 from HENRIETTA III river boat.
When I was a child I remember being scared to go to my great grandmother's house because we had to cross this bridge. There were areas where you could wait if some other vehicle was on the bridge, but you could not always see well enough to decide if the bridge was occupied. It was a one laner. I remember one time crossing in a wind and the boards were rolling up and down in dips. We met 2 milk trucks in the middle and their side of the bridge was about 3 feet lower than ours because of the weight differences. I thought the paint would scrape off the car as we passed them. I must have been around 8 years old and I thought we were going in the river. When I see footage of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge dissaster it takes my memories back to this bridge in Arkansas.
An unneeded bridge. As it turned out, the damed dam that would have inundated the canyon and made need for the bridge was never built. The older bridge is still there at the bottom of the canyon, after a steep drive down a winding cliff-side drive.
I have read several posts on the bridge collapse in 1989 and none have quite told the whole story, so here goes.
The bridge was limited to foot traffic and was used mainly to view Sugar Loaf Mountain and the trout in the river. The bridge had been the subject of countless photo's and paintings and was truly a lovely sight to see. You could watch the trout in the river and the fly fishermen as they worked their rods in the water just west of the bridge.
It was a clear fall day and a church group was enjoying the day and the river, when aprox. fifty young adults and children ventured out on the bridge, bringing the total number to aprox. sixty to seventy people. Some of the group started attempting to get the bridge to sway, not in a up and down motion, but a swinging from side to side. Other people not associated with the group, fled the bridge as well as some of the younger church group members. People traveling on the Hwy. bridge to the east of the old bridge, stated that the bridge was swinging side to side in such a violent manner, that they could see the under side of the bridge as it swung back and forth.
This intense swinging motion went on for sometime, untill the bridge cables, which were constructed of bundles of solid steel wire, finaly gave way on one side of the bridge tower. This caused one side of the bridge to drop, dumping the remaining people into the river. The strain was to much for the bridge towers to hold and one twisted and caused the other side of the bridge to give way, droping the entire span onto the people in the river. The five that were killed were all traped by the bridge's side rails and drowned or were killed by blunt trama. I personaly recovered two of the victims from the north end of the bridge and I will never forget their faces as long as I live. All of the deaths occured at either end of the bridge and not in the middle section, which was higher in the water allowing victims to escape.
Pictures taken 3-17-07
Photos taken 6-11-07
It's great, I was in New Orleans but I don't have a expirience traveling across this bridge, I think is so borred,water at both sides, but this thing made me think in how great can be the humans.
I'm a part of the Musick family too and I remember going over the bridges when I was young to visit my grandmother. We also had family reunions at the bridges and I remember a relative jumping off the bridge a time or two myself. It was a fun part of my life and I'm thinking about taking my grandchildren down there to experience the same thing. Of course, I always closed my eyes when my Dad drove over those bridges. I wonder how I will do now????
Please add the attached photos to your website. Your site rocks! My wife and I were there in fall of 2005 and took these photos.
I am remember Cherry Rock Park Bridge long time. i know other bridge Cliff Ave. over Big Sioux River. It was open about 1890. It was two truss span bridge. It was closed due of truck accident since winder 1970. Police took driver in custody. He book in jail and charge driver under intoxcation. Cliff Ave. Bridge was dismantled after about 1972. New four lane bridge at Cliff Ave. over Big Sioux River and open late 1973. I know old bridge was lost for rest of place. I have no photo for other bridge in Sioux Falls. thank you.
I am remember Cherry Rock Park Bridge long time. i know other bridge Cliff Ave. over Big Sioux River. It was open about 1890. It was two truss span bridge. It was closed due of truck accident since winder 1970. Police took driver in custody. He book in jail and charge driver under intoxcation. Cliff Ave. Bridge was dismantled after about 1972. New four lane bridge at Cliff Ave. over Big Sioux River and open late 1973. I know old bridge was lost for rest of place. I have no photo for other bridge in Sioux Falls. thank you.
Just a quick update on the Joe Dice Swinging Bridge aka Warsaw Middle Bridge. Through grants obtain by the City of Warsaw, Phase I of the bridge rehabilitation has been completed and the bridge will be reopened to foot traffic on July 1, 2007. Planning has begun for Phase II which will be for painting and lighting the bridge. This bridge will be a part of a walking and biking trail system that is currently underway.
My brother had an interesting encounter with this bridge. He had measured the width to make sure his equipment would fit on it, but apparently didn't measure both ends. And he managed to get stuck on the bridge.
I couldn't get a picture from the side because of the grass & weeds. I'll try to get one sometime this fall.
Webmaster's note: The photos that were here have been incorporated into the main site.
This is during the spring thaw/flood of 2006. The water is about 25-30 feet above normal levels at this point.
The vines, which are Poison Ivy, turn bright red in the fall creating another photo op. I have a photo of the plaque which I will try to find and upload at some point.
I guess this great bridge probably is being restored now. I last saw it nearly ten years ago probably shortly after it was closed. Being kept as a pedestrian bridge would be best for it because it is on the edge of Monticello and considerable traffic would put a lot of strain on this old bridge.
I wonder if the through truss bridge downstream from the Tioga on US 421 over the Tippecanoe still exists. Not being there in awhile, it may or may not because it was narrow and in rough looking shape when I saw it years ago.
I visited this bridge memorial day weekend 2005 and it was
great.My friend and I stayed at the Best Western Motel
next to the Hen House restaurant.The night before visiting
the bridge we visited the Lune Cafe I had a couple of Budweisers and my friend had a long island ice tea which
disagreed with him the next morning.It was a trip I will
never forget.
This bridge may no longer be in existence. There was a modern concrete structure in its place.
What a Gem this is. Although you always like to see them restored, the vines growing through the portals give it an ancient-almost mythical look. Wrought Iron Bridge Co. built some that look like this one.
Was this Florida's first suspension bridge? How many other suspension bridges are their in Florida and where are they?
The Freedom Bridge is dismantled and stored somewhere on the park property. I'm not sure what the timeline is for rebuilding it, hopefully soon! The other bridge you mentioned is the Secrest Ferry Bridge and it is to be restored for trail use. It is actually the longest Pennsylvania Thru truss remaining that was built for road use @ 316'. It's located at CR450E and was built in 1914 by the Lafayette Engineering Co.
This bridge may not be at this location anymore. There was all kinds of word that this bridge will be disassembled and moved to the Conner Prairie north of Indianapolis. The plan was reconstruct the bridge over the same river that far upstream, but it would probably be used for pedestrians and buggys. It would be fortunate for this to happen instead of the bridge being torn down.
Also back in 1998 I saw this other single span through truss bridge over the White River south of Gosport which is not listed in this website. I'm pretty sure it still exists. It looks like it was bypassed by a new bridge back in 1990 according to the new one's plaque. Someday, I'll have to check out to see if this one still exists.
Work has begun to replace this bridge.
The detail on the finials is incredible! Neat bridge!!
Tony, you’re welcome. Yes, the cresting on this bridge is a rare find, not many left that have it, and this is in near perfect condition. Other than the plaque missing from one end this bridge retains all of its original features including the guard rails and cut stone abutments that haven’t been reinforced or modified.
I’m posting a few more pictures that I found.
There used to be several bridges in this area that had either ornate cresting or decorated portals but most of them are now long gone. Tioga Bridge is another fine example, and luckily still survives and is being restored.
I have a few old pictures of the bridge on 800E, but I never actually saw it myself, it was torn down before I became interested in bridges or exploring the area.
Webmaster's note: The photos that were here have been incorporated into the main site.
Wayne, Thanks and no I don’t mind at all.
I probably should have attempted to touch up that photo before I posted it. I had a terrible time getting that photo, there’s only a plaque at one end of the bridge and there are a lot of trees that overhang the road so in order to get a clear shot you have to stand what seems like directly under it. Of course I happened to show up just as the sun was directly in line with the plaque.
Tom
Thanks for the pics of Shawnee Bridge. It and the Tioga Bridge are probably two of the nicest in that part of the state. Both feature beautiful cresting on the portals. There was a twin to the Shawnee Bridge on 800E, but unfortunately it did'nt survive.
Hey Tom......This one's in your neck of the woods. Do you happen to have any pics of this bridge? It's one I've wanted to visit, but don't seem to get that way. I know it's called the Shawnee Bridge, and is a 5-span Lattice Thru truss built by the Attica Bridge Co.
Thanks, Tony
These are pictures of the new bridge that replaced the bascule bridge. They were taken by my mother, Isobel Shorock, on the day the new bridge was opened to traffic.
These are postcards from 1906 showing the predecessor of the bascule bridge.
This is the bridge we took off 169 highway to go to our house. It brings back many memories!
I just looked this bridge up on Google Earth, and although the tracks on the south side of the bridge are clearly active about half a mile from the bridge, on the north side the tracks are missing, and about 2 miles or so north of the bridge, the Danville Municipal Airport's runway occupies the Right of Way.
I THINK THIS IS A PRETTY SAFE BRIDGE TO TRAVEL,UNLIKE THE BROOKPORT BRIDGE ON I-45.I LIKE TO CROSS ALL THE EXTREME SOUTHERN ILLINOIS BRIDGES WITH OUT ANY PROBLEMS , SOMETIMES A LITTLE NERVOUS AT NIGHT THOUGH,BUT FOR THE MOST PART THEY ARE ALL SAFE TO CROSS AT ASAFE SPEED!!!
What a pleasant surprise to see aomething I played on when I was small and always passed at least every Sunday on our way up the hill to Bluff Hall Congregational Church. which sets on top the hill. Also the Fall Creek Bridge and gorge was one of our places also. Thank you for bringing back wonderful memories.
We crossed this bridge twice on our most recent vacation at Holiday Island, AR. It's beautiful -- my wife's aunt and uncle had a picture taken of themselves and the bridge for their Christmas card a few years ago.
So far, I guess Tyson hasn't convinced the state to tear the old girl down. They ought to just use the roads that are there or improve U.S. 62 if they need a better road. That's my stand.
There used to be three bridges in this part of the country that scared the living bejeezus out of me. One, the old James Bethel Gresham Bridge at Calhoun, KY over the Green River, is no more, having been replaced by a more modern span. The others are the Cairo Mississippi River and the Cairo Ohio River bridges. Of course, daredevil father that I am, I cross them both on our trips to Oklahoma to visit family, just so my four kids can see what real bridges USED to be like. And we travel Highway 60 across the Show-Me State because Interstate life is just too boring!
Daylight crossings of the bridges are exciting, but the real thrill is to cross them at night. The only lights are from the barges on the river below, and possibly a few other places, but I am not daredevil enough to take my eyes off of the bridge!
I know there's talk of a new bridge somewhere down the line, but I sure hope they don't get rid of these two. They truly are treasures and I get a little misty to see them every time approach coming home, because I know we're almost home.
This bridge is known as the Jewettsport Ford Bridge.
Harold
The height of the trusses really does'nt matter. I've seen very short ponies, and some that are quite tall. The overhead struts, top lateral bracing, and the sway bracing(on larger bridges) is what constitutes a thru truss. Any truss bridge without at least the overhead struts would be considered a pony truss. This of course is with the trusses above the roadway......if they are below, it is a deck truss.
Is there a certain heighth requirment for the truss to be considered a pony truss as opposed to a through truss? I have seen bridges that are listed as a pony that is quite a bit shorter in heighth than the one pictured here. I understand that the through truss is held together at the top by cross angles and such, but the fact that this bridge posted here is completely opened and is taller than most ponies I have seen. Can someone help me differeniate the heighths and what constitutes a pony truss? Is there a possibility that the pony truss is a certain design rather than the shorter version of the through truss? Harold
Its quite an awesome bridge still open to traffic. I guess it is kept strong enough for all legal loads. I'd say to check out this bridge except don't walk on it due to traffic. Leave the walking to the bypassed Davis Ferry Bridge just south of Battleground going into Lafayette.
The bridge as viewed from the south. The large overhead structure in the foreground was installed to prevent large vehicles from crossing the bridge. Unfortunately, there was no way to avoid getting in the picture.
The bridge consists of one 8 panel pin connected Pratt through truss, and one 4 panel pin connected Pratt pony truss. Photo taken in February of 2005.
Webmaster's note: The photo that was here has been incorporated into the main site.
A four span, 7 panel riveted Pratt through truss. Sumner County forbids standing on this bridge, thus both pictures, including the "barrel shot" were taken using a zoom lens and then cropped. Photos were taken in February of 2005
Webmaster's note: The photos that were here have been incorporated into the main site.
Here are some more pics of this bridge. Note that one of the pylons in constructed of limestone and the other is concrete. The north approach span, part of which is visible here is narrower than the two pony spans, as is the south span. Both photos were taken in January of 2005
Webmaster's note: The photos that were here have been incorporated into the main site.
Man me and my boys be whippin around Indian Hill and my boy's friend was like yo this bridge be haunted. i go like WHAT!? and we creeped up in my cherry six fo on daytons right. and my boys nephew's friend craig was like yo throw some pennys out tha windo. and im likee man cmon now i be savin my coins and stuff ya know. but we did anyway right. i turned down my radio (i didnt want to by the way cuz it was paul wall) but then we was just chillen there and everythin was good. Whats really hood is the question. then outta nowhere this noise hits the top of my whip and i thought we was bout to get gully. i thought i had to bust the heata out but it aint no thang. it sounded like a coin and i was like WHAT!? and my whip wouldnt start and i was like man im bout to hit that dude at pep boys for sellin me bad oil u kno wat im sayin? but then we just drove off listenin to ice cube "today was a good day"
Came across this bridge yesterday returning from a trip. New bridge (approx 20ft west of this one) appears to be near completion. Signs indicated that the new one will be open yet this summer. Sad to see the old one go, it is an impressive piece of work.
This small wooden bridge crosses a very steep, narrow secondary road just south of the old route of U.S. 19A west of Waynesville.
Unfortunately this bridge is gone, one of two Jonathon Creek bridges replaced in the past couple years.
These bridges are much like the old Hudson, Wisconsin bridges across the St. Croix River. Very long. Does anybody have a view of the entire stucture?
There is a bridge upstream that's almost two miles long called the mills ahne bridge, if anybody has any pictures on this bridge could you please post it. It's a damn shame that our bridges are becoming aesteticly ugly. I used to know of two parallel blue steel truss bridges over Lake St. Croix (St. Croix River) in Hudson, Wisconsin. They must have been at least 3/4 of a mile long and now they've been replaced with simple, boring box girder bridges and a long causeway. Out on Lake Oahe (Missouri River) in South Dakota there is two huge steel truss bridges across it about 40 miles apart. They have got to be both over a mile and a half long. Two lanes... very scary! Long live beautiful steel bridges.
This bridge may no longer exist. There was a modern concrete structure in its place. You never know whether a bridge has been demolished or disassembled when you find a modern bridge in its place.
Howdy John, you are right on in your assessment of the monolithic pier, it is a later addition. Here is a photo from The Library of Congress web site taken in 1988 and there is no concrete pier visible. As far as I know this bridge is in it's original location. Here is a link to the LOC website for the bridge. http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/S?ammem/hh:@field(SUBJ+@od1(ARKANSAS--Sevier+County--Lockesburg+vicinity))
Webmaster's note: The photo that was here has been incorporated into the main site.
Some interesting notes. It would be nice to hear from Wayne and Fred on this. First you can note in Wayne's photos (see underneath) the monolithic pier/abutment. This appears to my untrained eye as a modern touch. Second as Fred mentioned rivets and bolts (generally a sign of repair or relocation). This bridge was well maintained as of 5/25/2007 i.e. good wood and abutment work. Was this bridge moved in/relocated? It appears original in it's boiler plate type piers.
This seemed very curious to me. Also if you drove a little further in to the West you could see a double tree line, lining and old roadway. I was going to jeep down it, but it was fenced or had a "gap" across it.
photo did not want to upload
Good to see the Vallonia Bridge again, a very old IBCo span. Thanks Joshua!
Yes, this road/bridge is closed. This road is also known as Old Williams Road. Something that I found strange about this bridge is towards the middle of the bridge there is a manhole cover leading to(?) If anybody might have a clue as to why there is a manhole cover in the middle of this bridge, please advise.
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I wanted to get more photos (side views) of this bridge, but as you can see the trees and weeds have almost swallowed this bridge up. Even though the trees weren't in bloom there were still too many of them to take a good side view photo.
Webmaster's note: The photo that was here has been incorporated into the main site.
I was told in my youth that my Mother's Uncle was the engineer that designed and built the Packsaddle Bridge. His name was C.V. Word and when I knew him he lived South of Arnett, Oklahoma on the U7 Ranch
Ray Meller
A nice bridge. Had seen it several years ago, but had'nt made it back down to get digital pics. I remembered it from the quarry in the background.
This bridge must have been closed a long long time ago. The boards of the deck were soft and some missing, the road on either side of the bridge is almost totally consumed by grass and weeds. I don't think you would be able to get a very good photo of this bridge during the summer when the trees are in bloom. These photos were taken during this past winter.
Webmaster's note: The photos that were here have been incorporated into the main site.
I went to visit this bridge on May 19, it has been replaced.
This is my first attempt at uploading pictures to your site. I plan on taking pictures of other bridges in Western New York State.
This is the Sour Springs Rd bridge. Its on a seasonal use road and has a weight limit of 3 tons. There were alot of bridges like this around the area. By the time I got interested in photographing them, they had been replaced. This one is surviving because of the seasonal use road that its on. No salt or winter traffic except snowmobiles.
Does anyone know when this bridge was built? Was it also destoyed in the 1913 flood? Also any info on the Twelve stone arches that carry the railroad just west of bridge
Try here for your storm info:
I took more pictures of the 10th Street Bridge when I was in Great Falls last week. These pictures are taken from the north side of the bridge and one can see the rehabilition project in progress. The remodeled portion of the bridge is seen in the following photos.
Webmaster's note: The photos that were here have been incorporated into the main site.
Tony, According to my resources this bridge was built in 1900, which seems more appropriate.
I haven’t really heard any thing new about it’s future, I’m sure it’s doomed.
Being as this is a pin-connected span, I would say 1926 is probably not a correct date of construction.....probably closer to turn of the century. Tom, do you know anything about it's current status?
Nice old bridge and appears very solid. Notice the original guard rails, I don't think there was a 6" section that wasn't bent. This bridge sees a lot of traffic and from the looks of the railings not a lot of good drivers.
Webmaster's note: The photos that were here have been incorporated into the main site.
Yes, this great bridge still does exist. I don't mean to be negative but unfortunately it appears to have been neglected and in great need of attention. The stonework on the pier and abutments, the wooden deck , and the trusses are all need attention if it to stick around much longer. Also I can't believe it is open for traffic. It would be a terrible shame to let the bridge fall beyond repair. There are not many of these two span bridges left so I would like to see this one as well as some other White River Bridges in the area get the attention and rehab they deserve!
I attended the University of Central Arkansas in Conway from the spring of 1975 through the spring of 1978. During that time I must have driven on every gravel road in Faulkner County - there couldn't have been many I missed. Chances are that I crossed this bridge at some point but I don't know for sure. Then during the early 1990s, I visited an old college buddy who was living in Conway, and we went driving up that way. We saw the old Springfield Bridge as we approached the modern bridge that replaced it. We stopped and walked out on the old bridge, neither of us aware that it was the oldest bridge still standing in Arkansas (as I understand it), having been built in 1874, etc. I found out about its history in late 2005 or early 2006, so my brother and I drove up to the bridge on April 1, 2006. Yeah, it was April Fool's Day, but never mind that. I took some photos, but none that show anything you haven't already seen on this website, with two exceptions. Attached are two photos of a Black Rat Snake that was at least temporarily making itself at home on the bridge.
Thank the 412th Engineer Command, based in Vicksburg for the nice American Flag flying attop the bridge. Helps keep us all focused.
West Union 1876 Over Sugar Creek
I recently acquired a sketch of the Sugar Creek covered bridge with the following information on the sketch; West Union 1876 Over Sugar Creek Parke Co., Ind by Roscoe Misselhorn. Any feedback is appreciated.
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I am relatively certain that these photos are of this bridge as it is the only bridge that I am aware of which crosses the North Caney River in this area. The bridge is a six panel, pin connected Pratt through truss. It was open as of January, 2005 but appears to carry very little traffic.
Webmaster's note: The photos that were here have been incorporated into the main site.