Harrison Covered Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Harrison Covered Bridge |
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|---|---|
| Coordinates | 39°51′17.75″N 87°20′8.75″W / 39.8549306°N 87.3357639°W |
| Carries | Tow Path Road |
| Crosses | Sugar Creek |
| Locale | West Union, Indiana, Parke, Indiana, United States |
| Official name | Harrison Covered Bridge |
| Named for | William Henry Harrison |
| Characteristics | |
| Total length | 250 ft (76 m) |
| History | |
| Constructed by | J. J. Daniels |
| Construction cost | $5,725 |
| Closed | September 1876 |
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The Harrison Covered Bridge was a special wooden bridge located north of West Union, Indiana. It was a type of bridge called a Burr Arch covered bridge. A famous builder named J. J. Daniels built it in 1866. Sadly, the bridge was badly damaged by floodwaters in December 1875 and was later replaced.
History of the Harrison Bridge
Building the Bridge
The Harrison Covered Bridge was built to replace an older bridge called the Star Mill Covered Bridge. That bridge had been destroyed by floods in 1866. J. J. Daniels, the builder, was paid about $270 by the Parke County Commissioners to remove the old, broken bridge from the creek.
On July 14, 1866, the County Commissioners gave Daniels a contract to build a new bridge. He was paid $5,725 for this job. The bridge was finished in 1866. It was named the Harrison Bridge to honor William Henry Harrison. He was a governor of the Indiana Territory and later became a President of the United States. Because of this new name, the old Star Mills Covered Bridge is sometimes called the Harrison #1 Bridge.
We don't have any photos of the Harrison Bridge. So, we don't know if it looked like the Jackson Covered Bridge or the later West Union Covered Bridge. However, an earlier offer to build the bridge was much higher, around $18,000. This might mean that Daniels was able to use some materials from the old bridge he removed. He might have even used the same stone supports (called abutments) for the new bridge.
Floods and a New Bridge
In December 1875, the Harrison Bridge and its supports were damaged by floods. This was similar to what happened to the bridge before it. It seems the part of the bridge over the creek was too narrow. Also, the bridge might have been too low to handle the strong floodwaters. The West Union Covered Bridge, which replaced it, was built 65 feet wider. It was also likely built higher to let more water pass during spring thaws and floods.
J. J. Daniels was able to make some quick repairs for $600. But by September 1876, the West Union Covered Bridge was finished. Some records suggest that the Harrison Bridge was still used while the new bridge was being built.
