Grasshopper Creek Bridge

heck yeah, would've been a beauty for that, just bad timing during the day....

Nick, it is funny that you ventured out here because this is one of the bridges that I thought would make a great backdrop for a solar eclipse photo.

I have really been a bit intrigued by this bridge ever since I first discovered it.

It has been my experience that bridges that are old enough to have cruciform outriggers, are usually old enough to have built-up verticals as opposed to the simple rolled verticals on this bridge. Cruciform outriggers generally fell out of favor in the 1880s, but rolled member were still relatively rare at that time. The rolled members make me think that the bridge was built after 1890, but the cruciform outriggers would make me think that it was built before 1890.

In addition, as Nathan has pointed out, this bridge has cast iron bearing shoes which are also indicative of a very old bridge.

This bridge has so many unusual and non-standard features that it is clearly of high historic significance even if it was built closer to 1900 then to 1870. As far as I'm concerned it should receive a very high priority for preservation. It is a very unusual, if not unique structure.

Nick found a bridge in neighboring Jefferson County that also has cruciform outriggers:

http://bridgehunter.com/ks/jefferson/cedar-creek/

The Jefferson County example looks more much like an 1870s bridge to me based on the fact that it is extremely lightweight.

...And yes Robert, the substructure is suggestive of a relocation job. Was likely on a main road somewhere in the county and was recycled for a lesser crossing.

I agree with Juls... I think that 1900 would be incorrect, and even 1890 might be pushing it a bit!

Julie, good thoughts. I am confident enough that this bridge is pre 1900 that I went ahead and changed the date as you suggested. I haven't checked county records but it's possible this bridge might have been moved here or rehabilitated in 1907 although I don't know that for certain.

Piping in, I would put a date of 1890 so that folks don't think it is turn of the century. Utilizing materials. We've seen other Missouri, Kansas companies be frugal. Agree with Nathan pre 1900.

We pushed our bowstring, McIntyre to having been put together with materials to 1878 when King started to use angle instead of cruciform even though it was sold and erected in 1883.

There's a timeline building....)

Hats off to whomever created the Cruciform Outriggers category. Good call!

Nathan:

Thanks for the information. Good eye on the cast iron base. My initial suspicions were recycled materials and/or erroneous date. We may have both here.

Hopefully, the counties are aware of the significance of these bridges. The pony trusses throughout the region have been getting replaced very quickly in the last few years.

Robert,

I did indeed visit this bridge and the unusual details are why it was a priority for me. I also visited this similar bridge that is claimed by MoDOT to be built by Missouri Valley Bridge and Iron Works:

http://www.bridgehunter.com/mo/vernon/25180/

The key shared features are cruciform/star iron outriggers and use of rolled beams for verticals. This one in Kansas on Grasshopper Creek has a unique detail NOT found in the Vernon County bridge which is a cast iron base for the end post. I attached two photos.

There are two additional similar bridges (verticals and outriggers) in Missouri that I didn't visit (and it is not clear if any of these have the cast iron base):

http://www.bridgehunter.com/mo/cass/22942/

http://www.bridgehunter.com/mo/bates/bh57766/

The one in Cass County is claimed on Bridgehunter to be built by Western Bridge Co. of Harrisonville, Missouri in 1918.

Use of cruciform in both 1907 and even moreso in 1918 is a bit suspicious so I question those dates. Moreover, since none other of Western Bridge Company's pony trusses follow the form of this bridge, maybe this company simply reused old/salvaged Missouri Valley trusses?

I propose all the above listed bridges are pre-1900 and built by one company (perhaps Missouri Valley Bridge and Iron).

Nathan:

Based on your preview pics, it looks like you visited this one. I have not been back since my initial visit at sunset after work.

I was always intrigued by the cruciform members that serve as outriggers. I did not expect to see them on a bridge from 1907.

I am glad to know this one is still in place despite being closed.