Dooley Station Covered Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dooley Station Covered Bridge |
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|---|---|
| Coordinates | 39°51′38.67″N 87°5′19.66″W / 39.8607417°N 87.0887944°W |
| Carries | C.R. E650N |
| Crosses | Little Raccoon Creek |
| Locale | Parke, Indiana, United States |
| Official name | Dooley Station Covered Bridge |
| Named for | The Dooley Family |
| WGCB Number | 14-61-22 |
| Characteristics | |
| Total length | 95 ft (29 m)73ft +11ft overhangs on each end |
| Width | 16 ft (4.9 m) |
| History | |
| Constructed by | W.C. Carty |
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The Dooley Station Covered Bridge was a special kind of bridge located east of Dooley Station, Indiana. It was a covered bridge, which means it had walls and a roof, like a long tunnel. This bridge used a design called a Burr arch truss. It crossed a stream named Little Raccoon Creek. A builder named W.C. Carty finished building it in 1917. Sadly, the bridge was destroyed by fire in 1960.
Bridge History
How the Bridge Was Lost
On December 4, 1960, around 9:30 at night, two people, Sam Link and Joe Long, found the Dooley Station Covered Bridge on fire. They also saw a car quickly leaving the area without its lights on. They quickly went to a nearby home to call the fire department and the local sheriff.
Later, some young men were found to be responsible for starting the fire. They explained that they had put a flammable liquid on the bridge before setting it on fire. They did not give a reason for their actions. The young men were required to pay money over time to help with the damage. They also had to spend some weekends working or in a special program. They were given rules about driving and had a curfew. Some of them even took jobs with the county to help pay their fines.
A New Bridge Takes Its Place
After the Dooley Station Covered Bridge was destroyed, another bridge was moved to its spot. In January 1961, the Portland Mills Covered Bridge was brought to replace it. The Portland Mills Bridge needed a new home because its original location was going to be flooded to create Lake Mansfield. So, it was moved to serve as the new bridge over Little Raccoon Creek.
