Walnut River Bridge

There was once another bridge just like this one to the North side of Douglass. Google Earth still shows what appears to be an upright stone pillar. This is located at N37 31.961 W097 01.111. My Curiosity has gotten the best of me now and as soon as the river goes back down I thing we will try to float it to see if its still there.

I visited this bridge today thinking that it was closed, but it was open to traffic. The quickest way to visit it is to take Hwy 77 south of Douglass to 230th street. Go west about three quarters of a mile, and then when the road tees, go south. The road will wind around, and then there is the bridge. The route I just listed is TREACHEROUS! Just faster to get there than the way I went. Take a truck! the roads on either side of the bridge aren't closed, per se: just low maintenance.

So, does anybody know any plans for the future of this bridge? This structure is very similar to the Pott's Ford Bridge in Cloud County, KS (1884) and the Spencer's Crossing Bridge in Anderson County, KS (1885), both of which are on the National Register of Historic Places. As this bridge appears to be constructed of wrought iron instead of steel (more popular after about the mid 1890s), it should certainly be a candidate for the NRHP as well.

I rode over the bridge from 1944 to the closing. The bridge talked to us as we drove slowly over the flexible boards. The road to the bridge curved like an S on the south entrance with an elevation entering the bridge...in winter, you hoped it would not be slick due to ice and snow. The Walnut River was usually slow most of the time, a haven for wild life, people fishing and just enjoying the view. The Walnut River at flood stage was a challenge to the bridge. I always hoped the floating trees hitting the bridge supports would not take the bridge out. The sights and sounds of the bridge are still within me and I was saddened when the township and county closed the road. I understood and softly said, "thank you" for my rides across. They were near perfect for a country girl.

The bridge as viewed from the south. The large overhead structure in the foreground was installed to prevent large vehicles from crossing the bridge. Unfortunately, there was no way to avoid getting in the picture.

The bridge consists of one 8 panel pin connected Pratt through truss, and one 4 panel pin connected Pratt pony truss. Photo taken in February of 2005.

Webmaster's note: The photo that was here has been incorporated into the main site.

This bridge, south of Douglass, Kansas was built by the Wrought Iron Bridge Company of Canton, Ohio. The main span is an eight panel, pin connected Pratt through truss. Note the decorative portal decorations, railings, and the two plaques.

Webmaster's note: The photos that were here have been incorporated into the main site.