West Union Covered Bridge (Indiana)
It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978 and was named a National Historic Landmark in 2016.
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.
Gallery
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View of Northwest portal.
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Detail of Southeast abutment with view of double Burr Arch rings bearing on abutment and lower truss details.
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Interior view of double Burr Arches, Kings Posts, and upper truss.
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View looking Southeast of interior of bridge.
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View of Southeast portal. (Note new bridge to far left)
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View out of east window looking east.
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Detail of Southeast of abutment.
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View of Southeast portal.
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View of center abutment from Southeast abutment.
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View of Southwest side of bridge from South.
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Detail of wall inscription showing 1914 date and names of county officials at time of building.
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View of wall, built in 1914 after flood damaged original walls, and Southeast portal.
See also
- List of bridges documented by the Historic American Engineering Record in Indiana
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Parke County, Indiana
- List of National Historic Landmarks in Indiana
- Parke County Covered Bridges
- Parke County Covered Bridge Festival
References
- ^ "Bridge Information".
- ^ "West Union Covered Bridge (#26)". Parke County Convention & Visitors Commission. Retrieved January 16, 2015.
- ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. January 23, 2007.
- ^ "West Union Covered Bridge". Parke County Incorporated / Parke County Convention and Visitors Commission. Retrieved October 18, 2012.
- ^ "Indiana State Historic Architectural and Archaeological Research Database (SHAARD)" (Searchable database). Department of Natural Resources, Division of Historic Preservation and Archaeology. Retrieved June 1, 2016. Note: This includes Charles Felkner (December 1977). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Form: Parke County Covered Bridge Historic District" (PDF). Retrieved June 1, 2016. and Site map.
- ^ "Draft NHL nomination for West Union Bridge" (PDF). National Park Service. Retrieved March 8, 2017.
- ^ "Weekly list of actions 2/16/17 to 3/2/17". National Park Service. Retrieved March 8, 2017.
External links
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