Oh man. I went over this bridge in a big truck back in July of 2002..i was ten. And ill tell you this. I was never more scared of crossing a bridge in my life!
This bridge is properly known as the Wittpenn Bridge, named after the mayor of Jersey City at the time of its construction, Otto Wittpenn. Now that I know this site exists I will be happy to try to provide photos of some of the bridges in the NJ/NY area. I assume the more famous ones are covered, but I know and appreciate them all, even the more obscure ones.
Bridge has been replaced with welded pony.
Bridge has been replaced with welded pony.
the wildcat trestle is old and in bad shape I wonder if it will be used again?
christian b.
ps:get me some pictures when it falls
its in bad shape I hope it doesent fall any time soon
christian b.
p.s where does it end?and get a picture when it falls
the bridge is in good shape exept the callapsing part it should be fixed and used.
Slightly different view.
Bridge is in "Weird Ohio" as one of the cry baby bridges. Supposed to be haunted by ghost of drowned baby. I suspect that is part of the reason for so much graffiti.
Dog is much cuter from the front.
I believe this is the Eugene Covered Bridge on the north side of Eugene/Cayuga. Some records and books indicate that it was built in 1873 while others say it was built in 1885. Most books say it was bypassed way back in 1973. I also think the bridge was rehabilitated again at some time. Whats hard for me to remember if there was a new building of some sort on the south end of the bridge and what it was. There were a lot of cars parked there when I was at the bridge.
This bridge has been reopened to foot traffic on July 1, 2007. The city of Warsaw got a grant to redo the historic bridge. The new deck is complete. They are hoping to get it painted and lights put back on the bridge. There are also plans on tying in a walking path from Drake Harbor to the bridge.
WOW!!! These are a couple of scarrry-looking bridges! Kinda reminds me of a picture of the old Vicksburg, Ms bridge that I saw many years ago in Trains magazine. I am actually from Chillicothe, Mo, quite a bit north of these bridges, and we do not have any bridge as scary as thes two beasts. Although, this does give me an idea for my next river scene on a model railroad. How about a highway bridge in between two monstrously long black railroad bridges! I love this website, and it is now one of my favorites. It will help with my bridge construction for my railroad. Thank you for posting these pictures. Just a quick question: does anyone know why the state of Nebraska is not included in the gallery of Missouri bridges?
Eames Bridge near Gladstone (written on back of photos). Photos from 1952
I am a former resident of Thayer MO and as a teenager hung out at the old bridge, during this time the bridge was open to trafic, but soon closed due to damages to the bridge. My Great Grandfather, Andrew Jackson, was an officer of the law and charged people .05 to cross by walking and .10 to cross on horse back. This occured soon after the bridge opened.
The old farm home near the bridge belongs to Polly Berkheimer who grew up there. I visited Polly in 2007 when she was 93 because I found I'm related to her. My grandparents were married on this farm in 1902. This is a very beautiful spot.
my father grew up in mississippi, but we were raised in oklahoma. we always went back to see his family, at least once a year and often twice. the old bridge was unlike any other; pretty much an exercise in terror! i remember how the steel curbs along the side were polished to a brilliant shine from the truckers rubbing their tires as they would slowly make their way, creeping bumper-to-bumper across the river. if the slow crawl and the close quarters weren't enough, then the train would come rumbling down the bridge, shaking the whole thing! that must be an INCREDIBLY strong structure to support all the weight it has. sadly, dad died just a few months before the new bridge opened, and he never got to drive it. now i cannot even drive over the old bridge to reminisce about my fond memories of dad, mississippi, and our trips. *sigh*...
Unfortunately, I think this bridge is scheduled for or in the process of being replaced. This was according to another website. Traffic on US 231 is very heavy and I believe the bridge has been strained by it. I sure hate to see a massive four-span structure to like this go. I only wish a new road could have been built further away if only things would work that way. I guess the only other example like this in Indiana is the SR 57 White River Bridge in Greene County but only it goes slightly up/downhill.
Tom
I could'nt agree with you more about this bridge and definately think that all remaining one's can and should be retained. I like this bridge so much that I had business cards made for a job I was working on last year.
I like to see them retained in their original location, but if not, efforts like the Boyd bridge in Decatur County (Sand Creek 700S) are the next best thing.
Tony
This bridge was closed down with the purpose of not being opened ever again about 2 months ago. The small one that went over the little branch(there's actually 2 bridges here, one right after the other) had structural damage that they said would cost too much to repair(they had done some work on it a few years ago). They even closed off the walking part of it. They are suppose to build a new bridge up stream (just downstream of where the Dewitt bridge is that has been closed down for several years) in about 2009. Yep, right now there are 3 bridges closed over Joachim in DeSoto(July 2007)
When I came home from work this past week, it looked like they already had this bridge down. They've had the road closed to it for over a week now.
James Barber Rd, E of US 42. Photo 7/5/07.
On Tarbox Cemetery Rd, just W of US42. Looks like a recent rehab was done. Photo taken 7/5/07. Area cleared for easy viewing on west end of bridge. At Tarbox Cemetery & US42 is the first rest area in Ohio.
Visited the site 7/5/07. Bridge has been replaced.
Wells Street Bridge - access from Superior Street on the south and Wells Street on the north.
The way this bridge was extensively rehabilitated is quite an example on how an old iron bridge can be. When I first saw this bridge, it was almost derelict buried in tree vegatation looking almost too rikety to drive over and the road on the approaches was close to washing away. After hearing about the rehab, I just had to check it out only to wonder if this was the same bridge. It looked like a totally different bridge in a nice setting with the stone abutments high above the creek and the posted limit went from TWO tons to FOURTEEN tons. There's plenty of old iron bridges which were demolished which I wish could have been rehabed like the Tobias bridge.
Also, there was a derelict iron truss bridge over Indian Kentuck Creek outside of Brooksburg on the Ohio River which I saw a few years ago. I don't know if it still exists or if it gave way.
At one time in the 1960's there were three swinging bridges near Warsaw. One was east of the town over the Grand River, one was near the marina in town and the third was seveal miles down 7 Highway I think. There was a little Inn or tavern sort of place on the north side of the bridge. I remember a trucker took too much weight over it, and it went down. He and his wife and child were killed in the accident. Maybe a check in the old papers would lead you to the answer on the names of the bridges
6/24/07
6/24/07
Very cool. 6/24/07
Very nice bridge. 6/24/07
6/24/07 - Abutments are there. Bridge is gone.
What a gorgeous bridge! Photo 6/24/07
the palmer slough trestle is in such good shape it should not have been abandoned it be reconected to a railroad!
the palmer slough trestle is in such good shape it should not have been abandoned it be reconected to a railroad!
I remember this bridge as a young man my first job was in north kc. and the bridge had a toll 20 cents one way and 10cents back.
This is the Boyd Bridge at it's new home in Greensburg's city park. It was built by the Pan American Bridge Company of New Castle,IN. This is absolutely one of the best historic bridge restorations I have ever seen. I was overwhelmed by the effort to save this rare span built by one of my hometown firms. It is a must see if you are in the area.
Webmaster's note: The photos that were here have been incorporated into the main site.
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
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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.