Harrison Covered Bridge

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Harrison Covered Bridge
Coordinates 39°51′17.75″N87°20′8.75″W / 39.8549306°N 87.3357639°W / 39.8549306; -87.3357639
CarriesTow Path Road
Crosses Sugar Creek
Locale West Union, Indiana, Parke, Indiana, United States
Official nameHarrison Covered Bridge
Named for William Henry Harrison
Characteristics
Total length250 ft (76 m)
History
Constructed by J. J. Daniels
Built1866
Construction cost$5,725
ClosedSeptember 1876
Location
Harrison Covered Bridge

The Harrison Covered Bridge was north of West Union, Indiana. The double-span Burr Arch covered bridge structure was built by J. J. Daniels in 1866 and damaged by flood waters in December 1875. [1]

Contents

History

Construction

The bridge was built to replace the Star Mill Covered Bridge that had been destroyed by flood waters in 1866. J. J. Daniels was paid $269.66 by the Parke County Commissioners to remove the destroyed bridge from the creek bed.

On July 14, 1866, the County Commissioners awarded Daniels with the contract to replace the bridge for $5,725. The bridge would be completed in 1866 and named the Harrison Bridge in honor of the Indiana Territorial Governor and later President William Henry Harrison. Because of the name change the Star Mills Covered Bridge has sometimes been referred to as the Harrison #1 Bridge.

With no photographs available it is unclear if the Harrison Bridge resembled the Jackson Covered Bridge or the later West Union Covered Bridge. It is known though that an earlier bid for the bridge was $18,000 so it may be that Daniels was able to reuse some of the materials that he had recovered from the earlier bridge, also the same abutments.

Repair and destruction

The bridge and its abutments were damaged in December 1875, much like the earlier bridge, it seems that span over the creek at this point were too narrow and that the bridge was too low to withstand the flood waters. The West Union Covered Bridge that would later replace it has a 65' wider span and is probably higher to allow more water to pass during the spring thaws and recurring freshets.

Daniels was able to complete what must have been some temporary repairs for $600 because by September 1876 the West Union Covered Bridge was completed. There are references that would seem to indicate that the Harrison Bridge was still in use during construction of the new bridge

See also

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The Roseville Covered Bridge 1866, also known as the Coxville covered bridge, is in Coxville also known as Roseville. The double span Burr Arch covered bridge structure was built by Joseph J. Daniels in 1866 and destroyed by arson in 1910. This was the second bridge at this location.

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The Weisner Covered Bridge was southwest of Catlin, Indiana. The single-span King Post covered bridge structure was built by Joseph A. Britton in 1908 and destroyed by flood in 1957.

The Lusk Covered Bridge was once located north of Marshall, Indiana, United States. Two single-span dual lane Lattice Truss covered bridges were located at the site, one of which replaced the other. Salmon Lusk constructed the first bridge in 1840, and after its destruction by flood in 1847, Lusk constructed the second. Both bridges were located on private land; the only other such covered bridges in Parke County were the State Sanitorium Covered Bridge, the JH Russell Covered Bridge, and the Clinton Toll Bridge.

References

  1. "Harrison Covered Bridge". Parke County Convention & Visitors Commission. Archived from the original on 14 February 2015. Retrieved 14 February 2015.