Salt Creek-Marble Rd. Bridge

Nathan:

Thanks for posting that link. I am suspecting that these assemblies are not necessarily indicative of any particular builder.

Also present on upper lateral bracing of Euritt Bridge

http://historicbridges.org/bridges/browser/?bridgebrowser=io...

I will still try to research those cast iron assemblies. So far, I only know of two bridges (including this one) that have them. I welcome all comments.

That sounds reasonable to me. This is definitely worth saving due to its unusual details.

I would say it's a safe bet that this one is ca. 1880

Wait, I think that I answered my own question. The Green Mill Ford Bridge, an 1871 King Iron Bridge Co. Bowstring in Bremer Co. Iowa has those cast iron assemblies as well:

http://historicbridges.org/bridges/browser/?bridgebrowser=io...

These seem to be exceptionally rare features.

The more I look at this bridge, the more I realize just how unusual it is. In addition to those iron clasps and the fish belly for beams, this bridge has laced top chords.

Does anybody else recognize those circular iron clasps on the diagonals? It seems like I have seen those somewhere but I just can't recall. I still think that this could potentially be a late 1870s bridge. If so, it would be just about the oldest bedstead in existence and would have National significance.

Yes, I noticed those as well. This is a very old and very significant bridge. It also symbolizes the status of many abandoned bridges in Kansas. This is why I am worried about bridges in this area. So many great bridges in such great danger...

WOW! Just WOW! Okay, there I said it.

This one has circular iron "clasps" that guide the diagonal. I seem to recall that some 1870s Bowstrings have these...

Nick, you might be finding some rare 1870s bridges...

Found it....long walk down very old closed public road - tree damage and some rot but fun elevation over creek, great survivor just a few blocks from thriving metropolis of Belleville

The latest Google imagery for this bridge was taken while a fire was in progress nearby. The bridge location is obscured by smoke.