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Hargrave Covered Bridge facts for kids

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Hargrave Covered Bridge
Coordinates 39°46′29.02″N 87°2′21.07″W / 39.7747278°N 87.0391861°W / 39.7747278; -87.0391861
Crosses Big Raccoon Creek
Locale Parke, Indiana, United States
Official name Hargrave Covered Bridge
Named for A. A. Hargrave
History
Constructed by J. J. Daniels (unconfirmed)
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Imagine a time when bridges were made of wood and covered like a tunnel! The Hargrave Covered Bridge was one of these special bridges. It stood proudly near Portland Mills, Indiana, for many years. This unique wooden bridge was built in 1847 by a famous builder named J. J. Daniels. It used a special design called a Burr Arch truss, which helped make it strong. Sadly, a big flood in 1913 washed it away.

Discovering the Hargrave Bridge's Story

The Hargrave Covered Bridge was named after A. A. Hargrave. He was a newspaper editor from Rockville who lived to be over 100 years old!

Building the Bridge

We don't have all the exact records about how the bridge was built. But an old photo of the bridge, taken before it was destroyed, shows that it was built in 1847. The builder's name in the photo is too blurry to read clearly.

However, the openings (called portals) of the Hargrave Bridge looked very similar to those on the Jackson Covered Bridge. The Jackson Bridge was definitely built by J. J. Daniels. This makes many people think that Daniels also built the Hargrave Bridge.

The Great Flood of 1913

In 1913, a huge event called the Great Flood of 1913 happened. This flood caused a lot of damage and destroyed many bridges in the county, including the Hargrave Covered Bridge. It was a sad day for the community.

A New Bridge Takes Its Place

After the Hargrave Bridge was lost, a new bridge was built in its place. This new bridge, called the Harbison Covered Bridge, was completed in 1916.

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