Happy Thanksgiving, new photos!
Howdy John, you are right on in your assessment of the monolithic pier, it is a later addition. Here is a photo from The Library of Congress web site taken in 1988 and there is no concrete pier visible. As far as I know this bridge is in it's original location. Here is a link to the LOC website for the bridge. http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/S?ammem/hh:@field(SUBJ+@...))
Webmaster's note: The photo that was here has been incorporated into the main site.
Some interesting notes. It would be nice to hear from Wayne and Fred on this. First you can note in Wayne's photos (see underneath) the monolithic pier/abutment. This appears to my untrained eye as a modern touch. Second as Fred mentioned rivets and bolts (generally a sign of repair or relocation). This bridge was well maintained as of 5/25/2007 i.e. good wood and abutment work. Was this bridge moved in/relocated? It appears original in it's boiler plate type piers.
This seemed very curious to me. Also if you drove a little further in to the West you could see a double tree line, lining and old roadway. I was going to jeep down it, but it was fenced or had a "gap" across it.
photo did not want to upload
Visited this bridge on 03 Feb. 2007 at 3:30 pm.
This bridge is at the very end of a county dirt road that may only be used by one person (farmer). Once you go over the bridge, the road abruptly ends at a cattle gate.
This Pony truss is different in construction than most. It is mostly bolted together but also has some riveting. The wooden guardrails have rotted away long ago and have never been replaced. The wooden decking and running boards are in good shape.
There is an old barking dog on the other side but not agressive. Whoever lives out there has their own historical bridge that is probably county maintained. I was sturdy to drive across.
Webmaster's note: The photos that were here have been incorporated into the main site.
Here is a 1923 advertisement for this obscure bridge builder.