Mark Frazier

Postcard view of what I believe was the original bridge at this location.

Old USGS quad excerpt showing original road alignment, by Wes Minder.

Workers tackle removal of collapsed bridge - Tuesday, October 2, 2012 - Nevada Daily Mail

http://www.nevadadailymail.com/story/1899659.html

"Workers from Gilkey Tow Service, Rich Hill, work to attach chains and a block and tackle to the south approach of the old bridge that used to cross the Osage River just north of Schell City on Friday. Ron Gilkey, at the lower portion of the structure, handles a cable attached to his winch truck while Brent Morrison, higher on the structure and to the left, passes the block and tackle to Keith Beck. The crew worked through the night on Thursday, preparing to remove that portion of the old structure. The collapsed bridge -- on 2750 Road, also known as River Road -- connected Vernon and Bates counties for more than a century, having been constructed in 1900. It was the quickest route between Schell City and Rockville. The bridge fell into the river in February 2012 and it took several months to work out the logistics of getting it out of the river. The bridge belongs to Bates County, according to Missouri Department of Transportation records, and Gilkey approached the Bates County Commission about removing the bridge, saying he's doing it mostly for the scrap iron, "and to give something back." Most of the approach in the north side has been removed and Gilkey said he will pull the remainder of the old bridge out onto the south bank of the Osage. He also plans to remove the old bridge that collapsed into the Marmaton River just north of Nevada near the Cephus Ford Access many years ago. None of that work is costing the county any money. Gilkey has "no idea" when the projects will be finished, "I've never done anything like this before," he said. Rusty Murry/Daily Mail"

Some new photographs from October 2010

The pier that supported the traffic deck on the north side of the river still remains. Located at the edge of the rail yard.

Two photographs of the first pier on the south side of the river. MoDOT retained this feature as part of the National Historic Preservation Act resolution.

Here is an additional photo of the approach to the "lost" bridge.

Some of the men in this photograph may have built a few of the bridges on this site.

Press photo from May 2, 1939. Men searching for a man associated with the Pendergast organiztion who they believed committed suicide by jumping from the bridge when faced with Federal income tax evasion charges.

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

From the Corps of Engineers Kansas City District History of the Missouri River Navigation Project "Soundings" published in 1986 -- The cutoff began in 1947. A 10 feet wide by 15 feet channel was cut, with the river expected to erode it to 1,000 feet wide. When completed in 1949, it cutoff 4.7 miles of river channel. The bridge was built before the cuttof began.

I have attached a scan of a postcard I believe is the original bridge to Liberty before the cutoff.

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

Link to the website for the current operator of the ferry: http://www.dorena-hickmanferryboat.com/directions.htm