Jimmy's Bridge

took a look at the county map and the county no longer hold right of way.

No graphic GIS that I can find but if you can give an approximate address this might be a place to start:

http://richardson.assessor.gisworkshop.com/

County road map here to see if county still claims right of way:

http://www.dor.state.ne.us/maps/func-class/state-fc/sfcrich....

Regarding someone taking an interest..first thing to do is establish current ownership. When a road is officially abandoned the property reverts back to private ownership, generally to the adjoining property owners. County records would indicate if this is truly an "abandoned" by the county road. If it is private land, one would have to negotiate with the owners, if it is still county property, then the county can be negotiated with. It can be a daunting task, but you can research county records and actually find data relating to this bridge, the contract let for bids to build this bridge, etc. Its all part of public record.

If someone would take interest in this bridge and have it refurbished, I would be a happy person!

I am revisiting this bridge in a week. Thanks for the comments.

Note however that the tube has been rotated 90° with the channel on the sides.

Note the floorbeam above the eyebar. This is also similar to Springfield. The McIntyre was reversed. So this bowstring shows the evolution from the Springfield with no bracing in the double verticals to the use of the riveted lattice.

Looking more like a King every minute.

The verticals look like cruciform and that lattice bracing reminds me of a King Bridge in the late 1870's. The Springfield Bowstring does not have the lacing but that cross shaped vertical post is all King to me. Did other companies use this form?

Any closeups of the shoes? Closer look, still going WOW.

Thanks for the find James.

I want to go. That is so cool.

Are you planning on going back in the Fall or Winter, after the foliage is gone? This is a truly amazing find!

An excellent find James. It's bridges like this that make hunt worthwhile. I like the name you bestowed on it as well. A fitting tribute to Jimmy.

I am not seeing any double-tubular verticals, so I think we can probably eliminate the Buckeye Bridge Works.

Any bowstring is an excellent find! Occasionally, a very significant bridge reappears years after it is largely forgotten. This is definitely one of them.

Strange as it may seem, a WIBC plate and channel bowstring would be rarer than a WIBC column bowstring. Excellent find!

Nice find James!

Looking at the arch configuration, this could possibly be one of the Wrought Iron Bridge Company's "non-tubular" style bowstring. Could also be the product of a more regional firm like the Missouri Valley B&I Works.

Here is probably the most amazing bridge find to date: I am visiting with a friend in Falls City, Ne. I ask him if he knows of any bridges in the area that I could photograph. He tells me that he knew of one that is no longer being used. He told me that he knows of this bridge only because another friend (Jimmy--I named the bridge after him since he is now deceased) of his took him to hunt mushrooms in the area. So we went to look for this bridge. I was expecting maybe an abandoned pratt pony truss or a pratt through truss, however it turned out to be a bowstring truss! The amazing thing is that this bridge is totally forgotten in the fact that it is not listed on any historical database. Therefore, this bridge is truly a hidden jem. Anyone knowing anything about this bridge please leave a comment.