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Asher Bridge

Ralls County, Missouri

Photo 

Asher Bridge, 1905

Asher Bridge, southern end.

Unknown, copyright by K. Allen Ballard

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BH Photo #284615

Map 

Description 

Locals gather on newly completed 280' long Asher Bridge, 1905. Before Asher Bridge was built, travelers used a nearby low water crossing which could only be forded three months of the year. Asher was the fourth bridge spanning the Salt, the fourth Ralls steel span, and at the time, the longest constructed by a county commission. Construction was greatly welcomed by residents who brought workers hot meals. St. Louis bridge builder, Meissert, married a local Coontz girl. This part of the Salt River was deep and treacherous as was the crossing upstream near later Norton Bridge. Norton was knocked off its abutments twice, once by flash flood, the second by ice jam and replaced in 1925 due to the extreme punishment. More than 1000 people attended opening day at Asher; 300lbs of fried fish, boiled hams, slaw, bread, pie, cake, ice cream, tea and coffee was served. The vehicle procession backed up a mile on both sides. From the deck to the water it was 40', but Marcus Crousore and others dove from it often.

Facts 

Overview
Lost Pratt through truss bridge over Salt River on MO Hwy H
Location
Ralls County, Missouri
Status
Replaced by a new bridge in 1964
History
Before Asher Bridge was built, travelers used a nearby low water crossing which could only be forded three months of the year.
Builders
- Joe Meissert (Bridge superintendent)
- Stupp Brothers Bridge & Iron Co. of St. Louis, Missouri
Design
14 Panel Pennsylvania Truss with 5-slope Camelback upper-chord design.
Dimensions
Total length: 280.0 ft.
Deck width: 15.7 ft.
Approximate latitude, longitude
+39.59292, -91.53384   (decimal degrees)
39°35'35" N, 91°32'02" W   (degrees°minutes'seconds")
Approximate UTM coordinates
15/625893/4383604 (zone/easting/northing)
Quadrangle map:
Center
Land survey
Center, MO
Inventory number
BH 61157 (Bridgehunter.com ID)

Categories 

Built 1905 (755)
Built during 1900s (6,740)
Joe Meissert (1)
Lost (21,662)
Lost 1964 (62)
Lost during 1960s (586)
Missouri (6,120)
Pennsylvania truss (430)
Pony truss (15,634)
 Pratt pony truss (3,432)
Pratt truss (8,623)
Ralls County, Missouri (40)
Replaced by new bridge (14,359)
Stupp Brothers Bridge & Iron Co. (89)
Through truss (13,903)
Total length 250-500 feet (4,854)
Truss (31,038)

Update Log 

  • February 9, 2015: Updated by Tony Dillon: Modified truss type
  • February 8, 2015: Updated by Fmiser: added the year it was replaced
  • June 1, 2014: Updated by K. Allen Ballard: Added Bridge; Historic Photo; History; Dimensions; Map location

Sources 

  • K. Allen Ballard - speedeeprint [at] gmail [dot] com
  • Fmiser - fmiser [at] gmail [dot] com
  • Tony Dillon - spansaver [at] hotmail [dot] com
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Comments 

Asher Bridge
Posted June 23, 2014, by Joe Meissert (joe [dot] meissert [at] gmail [dot] com)

Joe Meissert (My Great Grandfather) was the bridge superintendent for Stupp Brothers, that built this bridge. He married Ruth Coontz.

Asher Bridge
Posted June 1, 2014, by James Baughn (webmaster [at] bridgehunter [dot] com)

Nice find! This appears to be a Pennsylvania through truss, made even more rare by the Camelback profile.

I'm curious about the Meissert Construction Co. -- this is the first time I've heard of that company. The plaque on the bridge is similar to those built by two other St. Louis firms: Stupp Brothers and Miller & Borcherding.