I have been trying to find some conclusive facts about this bridge’s history. I noticed that someone stated the bridge might have been built by The Wrought Iron Bridge Co. I have seen several bridges built by this company so I took some close up pictures of construction details for comparison.
The bridge appears to me to be more similar to ones built by The Canton Bridge Co. Several of their bridges have design details that are identical. Three bridges listed on this site can be used for reference: The Country Club Road Bridge, 1898, Alabama; The Green Bridge, 1913, Ozark, MO; and The Wilson Bridge, 1904, Kansas.
The Wrought Iron Bridge Co and The Canton Bridge Co are related. John Reed worked as an apprentice at The Wrought Iron Bridge Co and then started The Canton Bridge Co in 1892.
If anyone has any information on the early history of this bridge, I hope they will share it.
This bridge is able to be reached via a walking trail at greenwood lake by the boat ramp.
I have several pics of the bridge, if anyone is interested email me at bassangler73@hotmail.com I would be happy to share them
Please contact Sonny Bell or myself if anyone has any old photographs and additional historical data or stories pertaining to this bridge. We would like to locate the old plaque that once existed on the west side of the bridge that would contain valuable historical data in our search. Appropriations for this bridge were made by the Sebastian County Court in October 1901; so we have no doubt the bridge was constructed in 1902. Thomas Newton Reed was the County Clerk at that time, but unfortunately failed to record any further data, which by Arkansas was suppose to have been done. Who exactly built this bridge or the name of the bridge company is still yet a mystery.
Please help us in our search!!! THANX.
Gene,
I remember seeing posted on theis website where this bridge was built by the Wrought Iron Bridge Company in 1899. Do you know where this information came from? I am trying to nail down exact information on the builders, date built, and date closed.
Sonny Bell
When this bridge was constructed across Vache Grasse Creek it was on what was at that time known as the Greenwood-Booneville Road, well before Ark. Highway 10 existed. The best way to photograph this bridge is by kayak, canoe, or boat and can be done just off Mt. Harmonny Road. By the way, VACHE GRASSE is French for "Fat Cow". More data to follow soon. Giving talk on this bridge in Greenwood next week. "Ghostbridgehunter"
This bridge connected what is now called Stewart Lane to what is now called Mt. Harmony Road (CR 77) I believe this is a very old alignment of HWY 10.
That Greenwood Lake Bridge (as it's called) is the ONLY Vehicular truss bridge left standing in Sebastian County, Arkansas. The add'l pony truss Houp mentions is being brought in from another county in Arkansas. It might be more accurately called "Vache Grasse Creek Bridge" as Greenwood Lake was made on the Creek by damming.
Great news for this bridge! I was contacted by the City of Greenwood about getting this bridge on the National Historic Register and have pointed them in the direction of Robert Scoggin in Little Rock. I'll be doing my part in giving two separate bridge talks in Greenwood in May in drumming up further interest. The bridge is going to be restored and along with the old pony truss at Terre Rouge on U.S. 67 will be incorporated into a hiking/jogging trail for the City of Greenwood. Historical research on this bridge will be done asap, just as soon as I get time.
This will no doubt make a lot of bridge hunters happy. Will keep everyone informed on future developements. Thank you Greenwood, Arkansas!!! Ghostbridgehunter......
Please note..there is no way to "legally" see this bridge unless you take a small boat and travel up the lake to it. The property on both sides of the bridge is private...when we went to it in summer of 2007, we got permission from the Greenwood mayor and had a police escort who stayed with us until we finished photographing it...acess is on a road beyond a locked gate..and the surrounding property is a police shooting range.
...and you would know this, um, HOW?
:-)
The bridge may also be reached by a short trail that is about 100’ before the locked gate on Stewart Ct.