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Organ Ferry Bridge

Ralls County, Missouri

Photos 

Postcard

BH Photo #106930

Map 

Description 

According to http://www.rallscounty.org/NewLondon/NewLondonHistory.pdf Organ Ferry Branch joined the Salt River about one mile east of New London. On January 13, 1956 (Friday the 13th) an overloaded semi truck-trailer split the concrete floor and fell through the bridge into the ice/water. Both drivers were stranded atop their semi until help arrived, both survived the incident with minor injuries. It was nearly 3 years before another bridge was built to replace Organ Ferry which was built approx 1904-05. This bridge was unique in that the western end abutted a rock bluff and required travelers to turn 90 degrees to the right if headed west into New London. This caught the truck drivers by surprise, who were going faster than necessary. When they hit their brakes the energy was directed downwards splitting the concrete deck.

About Organ Ferry 

Written by Clark Vance

From http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~kriegbaum/...

ANDREW JACKSON ORGAN, born in the Old Alford Hotel in New London, MO. Parents from Bourbon CO., Kentucky, and came to Missouri in 1824....
Archibald ORGAN was his son and married POLLY KRIGBAUM, had a ferry across Salt River east of New London. The bridge over Salt River has long been called Organ Ferry Bridge.

Facts 

Overview
Lost through truss bridge east of New London, MO
Location
New London, Ralls County, Missouri
Status
No longer exists, although the both bank abutments and some railing can still be seen just below the water.
History
Collapsed due to overloaded semi truck/trailer filled with lard. Disaster occurred early evening, Jan 13, 1956 (a Friday). On MO State Hwy V between New London and Hannibal. Two drivers from Tennessee claimed they were lost and tried to cross.
Builder
- Stupp Brothers Bridge & Iron Co. of St. Louis, Missouri (probably)
Design
Pin-connected, 10-panel Pratt through truss with inclined upper chord
Also called
MO Route V bridge
Approximate latitude, longitude
+39.58768, -91.37133   (decimal degrees)
39°35'16" N, 91°22'17" W   (degrees°minutes'seconds")
Approximate UTM coordinates
15/639858/4383262 (zone/easting/northing)
Quadrangle map:
Hannibal SE
Land survey
T. 55 N., R. 4 W., Sec. 5
Elevation
506 ft. above sea level
Inventory number
BH 22411 (Bridgehunter.com ID)

Categories 

10-panel truss (157)
A-frame portal (420)
Collapsed (392)
Inclined upper chord (10)
Lally columns (310)
Lost (24,747)
Lost 1956 (70)
Lost during 1950s (678)
Missouri (6,306)
New London, Missouri (1)
 One-lane traffic (7,606)
Owned by state (15,994)
Pin-connected (3,901)
Pratt through truss (5,393)
Pratt truss (9,300)
Ralls County, Missouri (40)
Stupp Brothers Bridge & Iron Co. (91)
Through truss (15,074)
Truss (32,798)

Update Log 

  • January 21, 2020: Updated by K. Allen Ballard: Updated description; bridge was destroyed on Friday the 13th!
  • June 1, 2014: New photos from K. Allen Ballard
  • April 25, 2014: Updated by K. Allen Ballard: Update details; date of Lard Truck disaster; Misc details added.
  • March 6, 2011: Essay added by Clark Vance
  • April 17, 2006: Posted new photos

Sources 

  • Clark Vance - cvance [at] dogmail [dot] com
  • K. Allen Ballard - speedeeprint [at] gmail [dot] com
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Comments 

Organ Ferry Bridge
Posted January 21, 2020, by George A Oakley (Georgeoakley49 [at] yahoo [dot] com)

Aren't pictures 3 and 6 the same picture?Look like the same picture to me.