CARMI BRIDGE IS RAZED BY STORM ON JUNE 21ST 1915
Dwellings, barns and telephone poles felt the force of the storm.
Bridge across the Little Wabash north of Carmi in the summer of 1915. The bridge had replaced an 1841 covered bridge in 1878. Plans were being made in September 1915 to build a new bridge.
JUNE 5TH 1915
Carmi --Following the continuous rains a portion of the west abutment of the wagon bridge across the Little Wabash River at this place fell Wednesday morning, June 2nd, making the bridge very unsafe. The bridge has been condemned for a number of years following the happening Wednesday, the approaches to the bridge were nailed up and traffic across it was stopped. The foot walk is not closed, and people are allowed to walk the bridge. A large portion of the sandstone abutment that has not fallen at the west end is badly cracked. It is not known definitely yet just what steps will be taken in the matter. It is probable that a state engineer will be called to Carmi to inspect the bridge and the council will probably act on his advice.
History: Lisa Ruble
Sources: Edwardsville Intelligencer (1915), Mount Carmel Evening Register (1915)
Although the article seems to be correct, the photo shown is not the Carmi Bridge. It is believed to have been the Sigler Bridge that may have collapsed during construction. The portal bracing matches what is shown in the photo.