Tioga Bridge
Description
The Original contract for this bridge was let to the Columbia Bridge Company. They had built other bridges over the Tippecanoe to the North at Buffalo, and just South of here at Sheets Mill (Oakdale Dam). Apparently there was a problem between the two parties and the contract was reissued, this time to the Wrought Iron Bridge Company. Craven Smith was listed as the representative for Columbia, but his name appears as the engineer for WIBCo on the plaque of the Tioga Bridge. It is assumed that during the 2 contract lettings he changed from one company to the other.Facts
- Overview
- Two-span through truss bridge over Tippecanoe River on Tioga Road
- Location
- Carroll County, Indiana, and White County, Indiana
- Status
- Open to pedestrians only
- History
- Built 1890 by the Wrought Iron Bridge Co.
- Builders
- - Craven Smith (Design)
- Wrought Iron Bridge Co. of Canton, Ohio
- Design
- Two-span Whipple through truss
- Dimensions
-
Length of largest span: 225.1 ft.
Total length: 453.1 ft.
Deck width: 14.4 ft.
Vertical clearance above deck: 8.5 ft.
- Recognition
- Eligible for the National Register of Historic Places
- Also called
- County Bridge 298
Paper Mill Bridge - Approximate latitude, longitude
- +40.73157, -86.75451 (decimal degrees)
40°43'54" N, 86°45'16" W (degrees°minutes'seconds") - Approximate UTM coordinates
- 16/520729/4508987 (zone/easting/northing)
- Quadrangle map:
- Monticello South
- Inventory numbers
- INNBI 9100206 (Indiana bridge number on the National Bridge Inventory)
BH 15881 (Bridgehunter.com ID)
Update Log
- May 2, 2020: New photo from Mike Daffron
- August 6, 2019: New photos from Mike Daffron
- February 10, 2018: New photos from Mike Daffron
- September 2, 2017: New video from Mike Daffron
- May 27, 2017: New photos from Mike Daffron
- April 2, 2016: New photo from Art Suckewer
- February 16, 2014: New photos from Tony Dillon
- October 7, 2011: New photos from Tom Hall
- March 28, 2010: Updated by Anthony Dillon: Added other name
- March 28, 2010: New photos from Tom Hall
- February 15, 2010: New photo from Ed Hollowell
- February 15, 2010: Updated by James Norwood: Added Coordinates
- January 12, 2009: Updated by Anthony Dillon
- June 26, 2008: Updated by Paul Brandenburg: added county bridge number
- December 22, 2006: Posted photos from Chris Light
Sources
- Chris Light - CJKADJ [at] juno [dot] com
- Paul Brandenburg - indianabridges [at] sbcglobal [dot] net
- Ed Hollowell - erhollowell [at] aol [dot] com
- Tony Dillon - spansaver [at] hotmail [dot] com
- James Norwood
- Tom Hall - thomas [dot] hall [at] ffni [dot] com
- Art Suckewer - Asuckewer [at] knite [dot] com
- Historicbridges.org - by Nathan Holth
- Mike Daffron - daffmikron [at] gmail [dot] com
Comments
Given the timing of when the bridge was built, it is likely that Columbia Bridge Co. (successors to CBW) failed just after being awarded the contract. Their agent likely saved his commissions by quickly working something out with WIBCo.
Steve
If you are talking about the abutments (yes you got it right!) next to the Tioga Bridge then those are from the old Monon Railroad Bridge.
http://bridgehunter.com/in/white/bh42288/
It was a unique span in it's own right and is a shame that it wasn't retained after the rail line was abandoned.
I wish I had a decent digital camera because I would have updated the pictures of this bridge. I was there today, and while signs are still in place, the bridge is beautifully painted, and just a gem to witness. I scrolled down to see other comments, and one of them answered a question I had about what looked like a prior bridge abutment (or however it's spelled LOL)
As of later December 2009 or January 2010, a contract has been let to J.A.Barker Engineering Co. to rehabilitate this bridge and, I believe, raise it a bit higher above the water level.
My interest in the project is somewhat personal, as the bridge was designed by my great-grandfather, Craven Smith, as the plaques at each end attest (one of the plaques is among the pictures on this site).
Bill Wilkinson
I wonder what it was like when the Monon Railroad bridge fell back in 1967. It being so much higher and so near the Tioga Road Bridge I would not have been surprised if it caused waves that damaged the little bridge. I attached a photo of the north footing of that bridge as seen from the Tioga Road Bridge.
Webmaster's note: The photo that was here has been incorporated into the main site.
It's interesting to note that this bridge has no sway bracing, which is very unusual for a tall Whipple truss. Simple struts and the portal structures are responsible for keeping the upper part of the trusses aligned.
This is a very neat old bridge that I had the pleasure to cross many times back in the early 80's. You used to be able to drive from US 421 on a lane beside the Sportman's Inn to access the bridge but it appears that this drive is long gone. The adjacent CSX (former Monon)railroad bridge was still in at that time as well. I have also boated on the Tippecanoe River as well and you literaly had to duck when passing underneath this bridge due to the low elevation of the spans. The drive on the West end of the bridge approach was neat as well with it's concrete walls complete with alot of graffiti before ascending back up to a 3 way intersection and soon after reaching back to US 421 beside the former Monon Railroad crossing on Monticello's(White County) South side. East approach will appear different now as well as I have read reports the adjacent approach to the abandoned rail line is being ripped out due to some local development. James in Logansport.
Yes, the old two-lane bridge just south of the Tioga bridge was replaced just after the turn of the current century. Its replacement was built while the old metal bridge was still standing, and was completed after the metal bridge was demolished. The new bridge was named after William "Bill" Luse, who was involved in creating and operating "The Madam Carroll," a boat that docked nearby.
The US 421 bridge downstream is a modern I-beam bridge. As with most modern bridges, they have little individuality.
GPS: 40.727104,-86.757419
1 Viewed from the restaurant deck on the east back, north of the bridge. From here, you can also see the old truss.
Webmaster's note: The photo that was here has been incorporated into the main site.
The 421 Bridge was replaced 7 or 8 years ago. Sorry!
I guess this great bridge probably is being restored now. I last saw it nearly ten years ago probably shortly after it was closed. Being kept as a pedestrian bridge would be best for it because it is on the edge of Monticello and considerable traffic would put a lot of strain on this old bridge.
I wonder if the through truss bridge downstream from the Tioga on US 421 over the Tippecanoe still exists. Not being there in awhile, it may or may not because it was narrow and in rough looking shape when I saw it years ago.
This page's URL is http://bridgehunter.com/in/carroll/tioga-road/
This is a picture of Tioga Bridge depicting the water level, a picture of a sign I found in a tree at the old Monon Railroad Bridge site and the columns from the old Monon Railroad Bridge. All taken on 12/05/2020