West Union Covered Bridge (Indiana)

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West Union Covered Bridge
Westunionbridge.jpg
West Union Covered Bridge
Coordinates 39°51′17.75″N87°20′8.75″W / 39.8549306°N 87.3357639°W / 39.8549306; -87.3357639 Coordinates: 39°51′17.75″N87°20′8.75″W / 39.8549306°N 87.3357639°W / 39.8549306; -87.3357639
CarriesTow Path Road (C.R. 525W)
CrossesSugar Creek, Parke County, Indiana
Locale Parke, Indiana, United States
Official nameWest Union Covered Bridge
Named for West Union, Indiana
Maintained by Parke County
WGCB Number
  1. 14-61-27 [1]
Characteristics
Design National Register of Historic Places
Total length337 ft (103 m)310ft +10ft +17ft overhangs on each end
Width17 ft (5.2 m) [2]
Height14.5 ft (4.4 m)
History
Constructed by J. J. Daniels
Built1876
MPS Parke County Covered Bridges TR
NRHP reference No. 78000414, 100000869 [3]
Significant dates
Added to NRHPDecember 22, 1978
Designated NHLDecember 23, 2016
Location
West Union Covered Bridge (Indiana)

The West Union Covered Bridge formerly carried Tow Path Road over Sugar Creek north-northeast of Montezuma, Indiana. The two-span Burr Arch Truss covered bridge structure was built by Joseph J. Daniels in 1876. It is notable for being the longest standing covered bridge in Parke County, [4] [5] and one of the nation's best-preserved examples of the Burr truss. [6]

Contents

It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978 [3] and was named a National Historic Landmark in 2016. [7]

History

The West Union Covered Bridge is the third bridge to stand at this location. The Star Mill Covered Bridge was the first and then the Harrison Covered Bridge replaced it but was damaged in 1876 prompting the West Union Covered Bridge to be built. The bridge was finished in September 1876. The road was originally part of the "Indiana State Highway", established with Legislature in 1827, which connected Fort Wayne with Terre Haute. Along with the Armiesburg Covered Bridge it hosted stage coach traffic to Lafayette.

Not much is left of West Union today, only a handful of houses. Gone are the school, post office, and the railroad. The Wabash Erie Canal ran just west of town with a feeder canal running south of Sugar Creek and connecting to the west of the bridge. The Chicago & Eastern Illinois Railroad crossed Sugar Creek to the east of the bridge and past West Union on the west side. Little is left of evidence of the railroad or the canal today. Farmers reclaimed the land and farm most of it today.

See also

Related Research Articles

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References

  1. ↑ "Bridge Information".
  2. ↑ "West Union Covered Bridge (#26)". Parke County Convention & Visitors Commission. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
  3. 1 2 "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service. January 23, 2007.
  4. ↑ "West Union Covered Bridge". Parke County Incorporated / Parke County Convention and Visitors Commission. Retrieved 2012-10-18.
  5. ↑ "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. and Site map.
  6. ↑ "Draft NHL nomination for West Union Bridge" (PDF). National Park Service. Retrieved 2017-03-08.
  7. ↑ "Weekly list of actions 2/16/17 to 3/2/17". National Park Service. Retrieved 2017-03-08.
External video
Nuvola apps kaboodle.svg Fly-through of West Union Bridge, Spanning Sugar Creek, Montezuma, Indiana, HAER, September 10, 2014
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