The first Bridgeton covered bridge was a double-span Burr Arch bridge built in 1868 by a crew led by J. J. Daniels. It was closed to traffic in 1967. It was built to replace two prior open wooden bridges that had fallen in.[4] After its destruction by fire, it was replaced in 2006 by a reproduction.
About 1823, Kockwood and Silliman built the first mill, in the location that would develop a bad reputation and often be referred to as "Sodom", on Big Raccoon Creek. Later, in an attempt to change the town's reputation, the town would become Bridgeton after the earlier bridge. The first mill was owned by Oniel and Wasson and later be bought by James Searing. From 1850 to 1860, James A. Rea would run the mill. In 1862, the mill would change hands to Ralph Sprague and burn down in 1869. James Rea would go on to rebuild the mill in 1871, and Joseph Cole would operate it. Daniel Webster bought it in 1882, and sold it to P.T. Winney in 1889. The mill would not change hands again until June 1914, when George Brake and Fred Mitchell purchased it. According to Mr. Brake, the south half of the dam was built in 1913, with the remaining half finished in 1916. The dam is constructed of concrete and is 225 ft (69 m) long and 9 ft (2.7 m) high.[5]
The first bridge to be built was of open design with wood rails and piers. While crossing the first bridge Owen Wimmer and his family were dropped into the mill pond along with their wagon and team when the bridge fell in. J.H. Kerr and others were able to rescue them. A second bridge of similar construction was erected at the same site. This bridge fell in also just after J.H. Kerr had driven cattle across. The covered bridge was then built in 1868, at the same location, just above the mill dam, with the abutments attached to the dam structure.
Three people submitted bids in 1868, for the contract to build the bridge, these bids would include three different styles of bridges. One bid was from a Mr. Epperson using an Howe Plan for $16,000. Wheelock and McCoy submitted two plans, one was to use a Burr Plan for $17,400 and the second using a Smith Plan for $10,200. Ultimately the bid was awarded to J. J. Daniels and his Burr Plan for $10,200. The "Daniels Portals" were to be later squared off and, after the bridge's closing in 1967, to traffic, benches and steps were added at the portals.
The present mill has been converted to run on electric power. Robert Weis and the Weis Milling Company operated the mill until 1995 when it was purchased by Mike Roe. The current owner has restored the mill and produces over 20 different milled products.
The bridge was destroyed by arson on April 28, 2005. Jesse Payne was taken into custody near the Mansfield Covered Bridge a short time later. He is suspected of burning the Jeffries Ford Covered Bridge also and attempted arson of the Mansfield Covered Bridge. Due to his mental state, he is being detained at the Logansport State Hospital until he is found fit to stand trial.[6][7]
Second bridgeedit
The second Bridgeton covered bridge was built in 2006 by local citizens and the state of Indiana.[8][9]
^"Bridgeton Covered Bridge (#8)". Covered Bridges. Retrieved 25 November 2019.
^"Indiana State Historic Architectural and Archaeological Research Database (SHAARD)" (Searchable database). Department of Natural Resources, Division of Historic Preservation and Archaeology. Retrieved 2016-06-01. Note: This includes Charles Felkner (December 1977). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Form: Parke County Covered Bridge Historic District" (PDF). Retrieved 2016-06-01., Site map, and Accompanying photographs.
^Harkrider, Cathy (4 August 2006). "Update on Covered Bridge Arsonist". Retrieved 1 July 2021.
^"Jesse L. Payne v. State of Indiana". 11 October 2006. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
^Rebuilding the Bridgeton Covered Bridge - BridgetonIndiana.com
^Wabash Men Join Community in Rebuilding Covered Bridge
Further readingedit
"Dooley Station Covered Bridge". Indiana Covered Bridges. 12 February 2015. Retrieved 12 February 2015.
External linksedit
Media related to Bridgeton Covered Bridge at Wikimedia Commons
Parke County Covered Bridge Festival 2020-09-30 at the Wayback Machine
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The first Bridgeton covered bridge was a double span Burr Arch bridge built in 1868 by a crew led by J J Daniels It was closed to traffic in 1967 It was built to replace two prior open wooden bridges that had fallen in 4 After its destruction by fire it was replaced in 2006 by a reproduction Bridgeton Covered BridgeRebuilt Bridgeton Covered Bridge 2006 Present Coordinates39 38 57 82 N 87 10 34 43 W 39 6493944 N 87 1762306 W 39 6493944 87 1762306CarriesPedestrian trafficCrossesBig Raccoon CreekLocaleBridgeton IndianaOfficial nameBridgeton BridgeNamed forBridgeton IndianaCharacteristicsDesignBurr arch truss bridgeMaterialSandstone block foundations Trough constructionWoodPier constructionUnknownTotal length267 ft 81 4 m includes 11 ft 3 4 m overhangs on each end Width13 ft 4 0 m Longest span122 5 ft 37 3 m No of spans2Piers in water1Clearance above12 ft 3 7 m HistoryDesignerSteve ArnoldChuck EnnisMike CooperRon MayBen Hill 1 Constructed byDan Collom amp local communityConstruction cost 125 000OpenedOctober 1 2006LocationBridgeton Covered BridgeOld bridgeCoordinates39 38 56 N 87 10 34 W 39 649 N 87 176 W 39 649 87 176CarriesBridgeton RoadBridge bypassed in 1967CrossesBig Raccoon CreekLocaleBridgeton IndianaOfficial nameBridgeton BridgeNamed forBridgeton IndianaWGCB 14 61 04 2 CharacteristicsDesignBurr arch truss bridgeMaterialSandstone block foundations Trough constructionWoodPier constructionUnknownTotal length267 ft 81 4 m includes 11 ft 3 4 m overhangs on each end Width13 ft 4 0 m Longest span122 5 ft 37 3 m No of spans2Piers in water1Clearance above12 ft 3 7 m HistoryConstruction cost 10 200Bridgeton Covered Bridge 8 U S National Register of Historic PlacesU S Historic districtContributing propertyLocation of Bridgeton Covered BridgeShow map of Parke County IndianaLocation of Bridgeton Covered BridgeShow map of IndianaLocation of Bridgeton Covered BridgeShow map of the United StatesBuilt1868 1868 Built byJ J DanielsDemolishedApril 28 2005 2005 04 28 Arson WebsiteBridgeton BridgePart ofParke County Covered Bridges TR ID64000193 NRHP reference No 78000386 3 Added to NRHPDecember 22 1978 Contents 1 First bridge 2 Second bridge 3 Gallery 4 See also 5 References 6 Further reading 7 External linksFirst bridge editAbout 1823 Kockwood and Silliman built the first mill in the location that would develop a bad reputation and often be referred to as Sodom on Big Raccoon Creek Later in an attempt to change the town s reputation the town would become Bridgeton after the earlier bridge The first mill was owned by Oniel and Wasson and later be bought by James Searing From 1850 to 1860 James A Rea would run the mill In 1862 the mill would change hands to Ralph Sprague and burn down in 1869 James Rea would go on to rebuild the mill in 1871 and Joseph Cole would operate it Daniel Webster bought it in 1882 and sold it to P T Winney in 1889 The mill would not change hands again until June 1914 when George Brake and Fred Mitchell purchased it According to Mr Brake the south half of the dam was built in 1913 with the remaining half finished in 1916 The dam is constructed of concrete and is 225 ft 69 m long and 9 ft 2 7 m high 5 The first bridge to be built was of open design with wood rails and piers While crossing the first bridge Owen Wimmer and his family were dropped into the mill pond along with their wagon and team when the bridge fell in J H Kerr and others were able to rescue them A second bridge of similar construction was erected at the same site This bridge fell in also just after J H Kerr had driven cattle across The covered bridge was then built in 1868 at the same location just above the mill dam with the abutments attached to the dam structure Three people submitted bids in 1868 for the contract to build the bridge these bids would include three different styles of bridges One bid was from a Mr Epperson using an Howe Plan for 16 000 Wheelock and McCoy submitted two plans one was to use a Burr Plan for 17 400 and the second using a Smith Plan for 10 200 Ultimately the bid was awarded to J J Daniels and his Burr Plan for 10 200 The Daniels Portals were to be later squared off and after the bridge s closing in 1967 to traffic benches and steps were added at the portals The present mill has been converted to run on electric power Robert Weis and the Weis Milling Company operated the mill until 1995 when it was purchased by Mike Roe The current owner has restored the mill and produces over 20 different milled products The bridge was destroyed by arson on April 28 2005 Jesse Payne was taken into custody near the Mansfield Covered Bridge a short time later He is suspected of burning the Jeffries Ford Covered Bridge also and attempted arson of the Mansfield Covered Bridge Due to his mental state he is being detained at the Logansport State Hospital until he is found fit to stand trial 6 7 Second bridge editThe second Bridgeton covered bridge was built in 2006 by local citizens and the state of Indiana 8 9 Gallery edit nbsp Original Bridgeton Bridge 1900See also editList of Registered Historic Places in Indiana Parke County Covered Bridges Bridgeton Indiana Bridgeton Historic District Parke County Covered Bridge FestivalReferences edit https www tribstar com news bridgeton bridge construction to begin soon article 5c04ed1e 09dd 5404 a8d2 bc2776766090 htm The Bridgeton Bridge Indiana Covered Bridge Society Retrieved 1 July 2021 National Register Information System Bridgeton Covered Bridge 8 78000386 National Register of Historic Places National Park Service January 23 2007 Retrieved September 17 2018 Bridgeton Covered Bridge 8 Covered Bridges Retrieved 25 November 2019 Indiana State Historic Architectural and Archaeological Research Database SHAARD Searchable database Department of Natural Resources Division of Historic Preservation and Archaeology Retrieved 2016 06 01 Note This includes Charles Felkner December 1977 National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Form Parke County Covered Bridge Historic District PDF Retrieved 2016 06 01 Site map and Accompanying photographs Harkrider Cathy 4 August 2006 Update on Covered Bridge Arsonist Retrieved 1 July 2021 Jesse L Payne v State of Indiana 11 October 2006 Retrieved 1 July 2021 Rebuilding the Bridgeton Covered Bridge BridgetonIndiana com Wabash Men Join Community in Rebuilding Covered BridgeFurther reading edit Dooley Station Covered Bridge Indiana Covered Bridges 12 February 2015 Retrieved 12 February 2015 External links edit nbsp Media related to Bridgeton Covered Bridge at Wikimedia Commons Parke County Covered Bridge Festival Archived 2020 09 30 at the Wayback Machine Official websitePortals nbsp Indiana nbsp Transport nbsp Engineering nbsp National Register of Historic Places Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bridgeton Covered Bridge amp oldid 1198705840, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
