Rating:
3 votes

Bell Ford Covered Bridge 14-36-03

Jackson County, Indiana

Photos 

Remaining section

Photo taken by Tom Hall in September 2005

Enlarge

BH Photo #116051

Map 

Street View 

Facts 

Overview
Collapsed covered bridge over East Fork White River
Location
Jackson County, Indiana
Status
Destroyed by flooding
History
Built 1885; collapsed in 1999 and 2006
Builders
- McNairy & Claflen Manufacturing Co. of Cleveland, Ohio
- Robert Patterson
Design
Covered Post through truss
Dimensions
Total length: 330.0 ft.
Deck width: 16.5 ft.
Vertical clearance above deck: 12.5 ft.
Recognition
Posted to the National Register of Historic Places on March 25, 2005
Also called
Bell's Ford
Approximate latitude, longitude
+38.97350, -85.92960   (decimal degrees)
38°58'25" N, 85°55'47" W   (degrees°minutes'seconds")
Approximate UTM coordinates
16/592723/4314380 (zone/easting/northing)
Quadrangle map:
Seymour
Inventory numbers
WGCB 14-36-03 (World Guide to Covered Bridges number)
NRHP 05000194 (National Register of Historic Places reference number)
BH 36165 (Bridgehunter.com ID)

Categories 

19th Century (8,078)
Built 1885 (196)
Built during 1880s (2,112)
Collapsed (419)
Covered (1,772)
HAER documented (1,114)
Have street view (27,997)
Indiana (5,044)
Jackson County, Indiana (83)
Lost (27,345)
 Lost 2006 (369)
Lost during 2000s (4,324)
McNairy & Claflen Manufacturing Co. (16)
NR-listed (3,005)
Owned by county (21,386)
Post truss (51)
Robert Patterson (1)
Through truss (16,250)
Total length 250-500 feet (5,411)
Truss (34,681)

Update Log 

  • May 29, 2021: New photo from Mike Daffron
  • February 21, 2021: New photo from Garrett DiDomizio
  • March 29, 2020: New photo from Tony Dillon
  • May 12, 2018: New photos from Mike Daffron
  • December 15, 2013: Updated by Will Truax: Added builder
  • October 9, 2013: New Street View added by J.P.
  • February 20, 2010: Updated by Robert Stephenson: HAER data
  • February 15, 2010: Updated by Anthony Dillon: Added GPS coordinates
  • April 9, 2009: New photos from Anthony Dillon
  • March 30, 2009: New photo from Anthony Dillon
  • June 27, 2008: Updated by Tom Hall: photos added

Sources 

  • Dale Travis Covered Bridge List
  • Tom Hall - thomas [dot] hall [at] ffni [dot] com
  • Tony Dillon - spansaver [at] hotmail [dot] com
  • Robert Stephenson - seinfeld99 [at] yahoo [dot] com
  • HAER IN-46 - Bells Ford Bridge, Spanning East Fork White River at State Route 258, Seymour, Jackson County, IN
  • J.P. - wildcatjon2000 [at] gmail [dot] com
  • Will Truax - Bridgewright [at] gmail [dot] com
  • Mike Daffron - daffmikron [at] gmail [dot] com
  • Garrett DiDomizio - garrettdidomizio [at] gmail [dot] com
Post a comment here

Comments 

Bell Ford Covered Bridge 14-36-03
Posted May 25, 2021, by Tony Dillon (spansaver [at] hotmail [dot] com)

It is indeed!

Bell Ford Covered Bridge 14-36-03
Posted May 24, 2021, by Nathan Holth (webmaster [at] historicbridges [dot] org)

I believe this article/photos is referring to this bridge.

https://www.indystar.com/picture-gallery/news/2021/05/24/rar...

Bell Ford Covered Bridge 14-36-03
Posted January 25, 2021, by James McCray (jamesinslocomb [at] yahoo [dot] com)

This bridge will be relocated and reconstructed.

https://amp.indystar.com/amp/1431710001

Bell Ford Covered Bridge 14-36-03
Posted March 30, 2020, by George A Oakley (Georgeoakley49 [at] yahoo [dot] com)

In picture #18 I see what looks like a bridge pier.Would that have been a railroad bridge pier?

Bell Ford Covered Bridge 14-36-03
Posted June 18, 2016, by Tony Dillon (spansaver [at] hotmail [dot] com)

This was(is) the last of those combination Post truss spans.

Although listed as lost, all of the wrought and cast iron components are in storage. I don't believe any of the wood was retained, but considering the penchant to rip all of the historic wood out of covered bridges these days...I guess that's not a big deal! It remains to be seen if this bridge will ever be rebuilt.

Bell Ford Covered Bridge
Posted December 15, 2013, by Will Truax (Bridgewright [at] gmail [dot] com)

As below, those with an interest in Bell Ford may find this entry on one of the principal's in the Cleveland bridge building firm which produced it of value -

http://bridgewright.wordpress.com/2013/11/30/its-all-in-a-na...

Bell's Ford Covered Bridge
Posted October 25, 2012, by Will Truax (Bridgewright [at] ymail [dot] com)

Those with an interest in this bridge, or Simeon & AJ Post and their trusses, may have an interest in this blog entry bio I put up awhile back.

I was recently reminded of it when there was a spike in readership recently, homework related research I'm guessing.

I probably should work to steal the time to condense it into an essay for this page...

http://bridgewright.wordpress.com/2011/12/09/new-beginnings-...

Bell Ford Covered Bridge
Posted February 22, 2011, by Anonymous

I had read in the newspaper that the Covered Bridge gotten damaged from High Speed Winds

Bell Ford Covered Bridge
Posted June 7, 2010, by Anthony Dillon (spansaver [at] hotmail [dot] com)

The essential parts of this bridge (wrought iron rods and cast iron fittings) are all in storage. Most of the original wood was rotted or destroyed in the collapse. Current plans call for the bridge to be re-erected at Fort Benjamin Harrison State Park in Indianapolis.

Bell Ford Covered Bridge
Posted February 14, 2008, by Fleeta K. Arthur (bememillf [at] excite [dot] com)

Stored, repairs have been done to the ironwork of the first collapsed span. All federal funding is in place. Need local match. Have until 2008 or this bridge will be lost to southern Indiana.

Interested donars may send money to

Jackson County Auditor

% Debbie Eggerman

Brownstown Courthouse

Brownstown, IN. 47220

specify donation is to go to Bell Ford Account

Sincerely

Fleeta K. Arthur

jackson County Park and Recreation Board