Photos
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Overview |
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East portal |
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Inside |
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Close-up of truss |
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Sign Built in 1854, in continuous service from 1854-1930. Was originally part of a planned toll road between Bremen and Chester. All of the timber in the bridge is the original with the exceptions of the floor, floor joist, roof, and siding.
Acquired by the State of Illinois in 1936 for purposes of preservation and a picnic area. Money for purchase of site was donated by Chester Chamber of Commerce. |
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Overview |
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East end |
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West end |
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Middle panels |
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Construction equipment |
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Side view The following photos were taken Oct. 2005 by the webmaster |
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South side |
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East portal |
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West portal |
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Oblique view |
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Inside |
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Close-up of arch |
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Center panels |
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Vertical member |
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Modern additions A sprinkler system, plus new steel joints, look out of place against the older wooden members |
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Underneath An entirely new layer of load-bearing steel stringers has been installed underneath the bridge |
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Lower chord |
Timeline
Compiled by James Baughn
- 1854
- Bridge constructed as part of the plank toll road out of Chester
- 1930
- Closed to traffic after replacement bridge built
- 1936
- Bridge acquired by State of Illinois
- 1954
- Rehabilitated
- 2004
- Closed for reconstruction
- June 10, 2005
- Dedication ceremony for reconstructed bridge
Facts
- Overview
- Covered bridge over Little Mary's River northeast of Chester, just off IL 150
- Location
- Randolph County, Illinois
- Status
- Open to pedestrians only
- Future prospects
- Preserved
- History
- Built 1854; carried traffic until 1930; rehabilitated 1954 and 2004-05
- Design
- Covered Burr arch-truss
- Dimensions
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Length of largest span: 86.0 ft.
- Recognition
- Posted to the National Register of Historic Places on December 31, 1974
- Approximate latitude, longitude
- +37.94907, -89.76565 (decimal degrees)
37°56'57" N, 89°45'56" W (degrees°minutes'seconds") - Approximate UTM coordinates
- 16/256992/4203772 (zone/easting/northing)
- USGS topographic map
- Chester
- Inventory numbers
- WGCB 13-79-01 (World Guide to Covered Bridges number)
NRHP 74000771 (National Register of Historic Places reference number)
BH 15628 (Bridgehunter.com ID)