Breeden's Bridge
Photos
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Overview Breeden's Bridge is an unusual bridge with an unusual story. The bridge is a mixmatched bridge. It consists of two different type of truss spans, which were made in different years, and also, both spans originated from two different locations. The spans were relocated to their present location in 1959. The Parker Truss span is 400' long and was constructed in 1900. The Pratt Truss span was constructed in 1883 and is reported to be the oldest of its type in Indiana. The bridge sits in O'Bannon Woods State Park about three miles south of Leavenworth, IN on an old logging road just off to the east of IN HWY 62. The future of this bridge is bright. It is scheduled to be rehabilitated into a pedestrian bridge in the near future. Photo taken by James McCray in December 2007 |
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"Parker and Pratt Together" Parker Truss on the right. Pratt Truss on the left. Photo taken by James McCray in December 2007 |
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Oblique View Photo taken by James McCray in December 2007 |
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North Portal Note the brave human being attempting to cross the bridge. Photo taken by James McCray in December 2007 |
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Deck View Soon this bridge will have a brand new deck. Photo taken by James McCray in December 2007 |
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Closeup of Parker Truss (Main) Span Photo taken by James McCray in December 2007 |
Facts
- Overview
- Parker through truss bridge over Blue River on on an old logging trail over the Blue River in O'Bannon Woods State Park east of IN 62 about three miles south of Leavenworth, IN
- Status
- Closed to all traffic
- Future prospects
- Bridge is scheduled to be rehabilitated and reused as part of a new hiking trail. See the following link: http://www.news-sentinel.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071109/NEWS/711090323
- History
- Bridge relocated to its present location in 1959. Parker Truss span built in 1900 and the Pratt Truss span built in 1883. Breeden's Bridge is scheduled to be rehabilitated and retrofitted for use as a pedestrian bridge.
- Design
- Parker through truss
- Dimensions
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Length of largest span: 400.0 ft.
- Recognition
- Eligible for the National Register of Historic Places
- Approximate latitude, longitude
- +38.19757, -86.30915 (decimal degrees)
38°11'51" N, 86°18'33" W (degrees°minutes'seconds") - Approximate UTM coordinates
- 16/560492/4227961 (zone/easting/northing)
- USGS topographic map
- Leavenworth
- Inventory number
- BH 36259 (Bridgehunter.com ID)
Update Log
- February 12, 2009: Updated by James McCray: updated future prospects
- July 13, 2008: Updated by James McCray: "Updated gps coordinates"
- February 11, 2008: Added by James McCray
Comments
There's something amiss with the story on this bridge. The massive cut stone abutments that support the structure are pre-1900. They would not have been built in 1959. Perhaps the Pratt span (which would have been built on stone) was actually built at this location, with maybe a larger Whipple truss that was lost. Or at least there was another structure there that was replaced with these two spans for some reason. I just know that the abutments pre-date the timeline given. If anyone knows more on this story...please comment. THANKS
My Grandparents lived on the Crawford county side of this bridge when I was growing up. I am enclosing a picture of my mother and a friend around 1937. It is looking from the Crawford county side toward the Harrison county side. You don't have to post it but thought you may like to see it.
