Tom Hall

Nathan, I agree with you 100%. You hear of this kind of ignorance way too often. It’s hard to believe that there are that many stupid people driving big trucks, but facts don’t lie. I also wouldn’t doubt your theory that it might have been done of purpose, it would seem like an extreme measure to take, but considering the stupidity of most county officials I’m sure they thought it would weaken the bridge rather that collapse it.

I'm pretty sure this bridge is gone. I couldn't find any trace of it.

Jim, thanks for the video link, that was really interesting. I knew the Deer Creek bridge was once part of the national road, but I had no idea that the Cooper iron bridge had once been part of it.

That’s great idea Tony, but highly unlikely from Iroquois county. They restore nothing.

I’m actually surprised they would even consider replacing this bridge, the road goes virtually nowhere and even if it did the concrete bridge that Geddes mentioned is probably in worse shape than the iron bridge.

There are several locations in that county where the bridges have simply been ripped out with no replacement. Rather than leave the old bridge for pedestrian use or at least for people like us to enjoy, the roads now dead end where the bridges once stood. The bridge over Sugar Creek on 2470E was a prime example.

I’m guessing the only reason they would even consider replacing this bridge would be because someone wants access for large farm machinery. As usual the taxpayer gets stuck paying for something only one person has a use for.

Be careful guys, if the government finds out that we’re addicted to old bridges there’s a good chance they’ll have a program to correct us of the problem, and worse yet historic bridges will become illegal and be destroyed even faster than they already are.

Thanks James,

Actually my daughter located that bridge for me, some how I had overlooked it.

Yes, by looking at that area on Google Earth you can see how the river once twisted all over the place.

I haven’t done a lot of research, but it’s my understanding that the river was dredged sometime in the 1920’s to give it its present course. Up until that time the area was a massive swamp. I’m sure this bridge pre dates the dredging. In fact the abandoned abutments to the north that you mentioned would have been from a newer bridge that was most likely built after the river was straightened. I thought it was odd that the newer bridge was missing while the old one still stands. There are some local legends involving a car wreck where a couple were killed, supposedly the bridge is haunted. There may be some fact to the legend as far as an accident; perhaps there was a wreck that damaged the newer bridge to the point of removing it?

I didn’t venture far enough across the bridge to see if there was a culvert farther north, the area on the other side is very over grown and almost impassible. ( at least when I was there).I would recommend waiting until late fall or early spring to visit.

If you visit this bridge during the summer be prepared, not for ghosts but mosquitoes! The area is still quite swampy and a perfect breeding ground for them. They will devour you in a very short time.Oh yeah, as a final warning the road leading back to this bridge is about a mile long and there’s no place to turn around once you get there other than a small area that has been used as a dump. There are thousands of nails to drive over.

I’m posting a picture of the abandoned abutment just in case someone wants to see without actually going there.

James, glad I could help out with the pictures.

I had taken a few of them back in 2006 and a couple of weeks ago I stopped by hoping to get some better shots of the arch but should have done it sooner, the trees and brush are quickly taking over. By the middle of the summer it’ll be hard to spot unless you know its there. I can easily see how you could have missed it.

I’m curious about the other end, is there an arch there too? I would think there would be but it’s even more overgrown and since the ties have been removed getting to it seems all but impossible.

I suspect that an older bridge once stood here, mainly because of the stone abutments and concrete piers. It seems like there would have been stone piers instead of concrete, especially considering they took the time to add to the abutments with similar stonework when it was double tracked. Just a theory.

Gene, You're a man of many talents!

That was very good; it definitely summarizes the bridge hunting experience

Yeah Gene, I noticed that too. New York must actually consider their bridges historic and worth maintaining. Either that or paint is cheap there.

Wow Robert, Nice find! Another bridge I didn't know existed. I was within a few miles of this bridge more than once last year and went right past. I'm going to have to pay more attention.

I grew up near this bridge and spend a lot of time playing under the bridge and around the old abutment. I’ve always been curious as to what kind of bridge originally crossed here.

So far I have found no historical documents or old photos anywhere.

Being as the present bridge was built in 1925, anyone old enough remember the previous bridge is most likely gone too. If anyone has any information please contact me.

I’m glad to see someone posted photos of this bridge.

This is a very cool bridge, creepy to walk across even now.

The first time I did it the rails were still in place, and I wasn’t sure the line wasn’t still active. But from the amount of rust on the rails I didn't think it was used very often. Even so, half way across my imagination got the best of me and I swore I heard a train coming.

Looking closely at the first photo you can see the platforms hanging out over the edge, and at that time they were in decent shape and even had railings around them, though somewhat flimsy looking. My first thought was if a train was coming I could simply step out onto the nearest one. My second thought was to run, even though running across open ties is quite a challenge, a train would have to be pretty close for me to stand on one of those as it passed.

I found out later that the line was abandoned and there wasn’t any reason for me to go running back and forth from a train that didn’t exist.

I’ve been across it many times since and I’ve tried several times to get pictures, but it’s not an easy bridge to photograph, especially with the amount of overgrowth and steepness of the banks near the abutments.

Thanks for doing what I couldn’t.

Tom

There was still an original builder’s plate on the bridge before restoration, but it was full of bullet holes.

I’m going to say that these are reproductions. Very nice ones at that, a detail that is usually overlooked.

Also, the bridge now has a wood floor rather than corrugated steel covered with asphalt as before.

The bridge listed here as Bicycle bridge was actually known as Maxwell bridge.

Bicycle bridge was on the same road, but crossed the Wabash river west of Delphi.

This link shows the original Bicycle bridge.

http://www.carrollcountymuseum.org/photo/item.php?in=101196

Here’s another bridge not listed.

It’s located in Parke County Indiana, near the town of Bridgeton on county road 20, or Greencastle road (according to Google maps)

Whipple Through Truss built by The Wrought Iron Bridge Company Of Canton Ohio.

175’ long and crosses Big Raccoon creek. Bypassed in 1991.