Overview
Breeden's Bridge is an unusual bridge with an unusual story. The bridge is a mixmatched bridge. It consists of two different type of truss spans, which were made in different years, and also, both spans originated from two different locations. The spans were relocated to their present location in 1959. The Parker Truss span is 400' long and was constructed in 1900. The Pratt Truss span was constructed in 1883 and is reported to be the oldest of its type in Indiana. The bridge sits in O'Bannon Woods State Park about three miles south of Leavenworth, IN on an old logging road just off to the east of IN HWY 62. The future of this bridge is bright. It is scheduled to be rehabilitated into a pedestrian bridge in the near future.
Photo taken by James McCray in December 2007
BH Photo #111719
Sad to see the two spans rotting away.
Just visited this fella Saturday and it looks like they have forgot to restore it. Come on, people! Let's get our poop in a group!! (Still, quite a breathtaking sight!)
One of the bigger mysteries has been solved. The span was officially known as Cole's Ford Bridge and was completed on December 7, 1871 as a wrought iron tubular arch by the King Bridge Company of Cleveland, Ohio. The span was demolished or severely damaged in the flood of 1883 and a bid was let to the Wrought Iron Bridge Company for a Parker and two Pratt truss spans.
The bridge was bypassed in 1938 when a relocated IN 62/US 460 was completed, and the span was abandoned in or around 1984. The deck was removed by 1987.
More can be found at my site: http://bridgestunnels.com/bridges/indiana/precinct-school-ro...
The bridge is also called Cole's Ford Bridge per my conversation with Richard Eastwick (Crawford County historian) in 2009.
this bridge is also the 650south bridge that is listed on the page. Discovered this on the SHAARD website. https://secure.in.gov/apps/dnr/shaard/welcome.html this the link to the main page.
There's something amiss with the story on this bridge. The massive cut stone abutments that support the structure are pre-1900. They would not have been built in 1959. Perhaps the Pratt span (which would have been built on stone) was actually built at this location, with maybe a larger Whipple truss that was lost. Or at least there was another structure there that was replaced with these two spans for some reason. I just know that the abutments pre-date the timeline given. If anyone knows more on this story...please comment. THANKS
I was at the bridge this afternoon, Friday, Sept., 24, 2021. Water high on the big blue n bridge still rotting away.
Does anyone know if there really are still plans to do something restorative to this historical bridge??
Beautiful spot… also does anyone know how/where to access on other side of river… south side? I heard voices talking as I was about to leave.