Jeffries Ford Covered Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Jeffries Ford Covered Bridge |
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| Coordinates | 39°37′48″N 87°12′38″W / 39.6300°N 87.2105°W |
| Carries | Jeffries Ford Road (C.R. S150E) |
| Crosses | Big Raccoon Creek |
| Locale | Raccoon, Indiana |
| Named for | Jeffries Ford |
| Owner | Parke County Commissioners Parke County |
| WGCB Number | 14-61-03x |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Burr arch truss bridge |
| Material | Wood |
| Total length | 222 feet (68 m) |
| Width | 16 feet (4.9 m) |
| Height | 13 feet (4.0 m) |
| History | |
| Constructed by | Joseph A. Britton |
| Opened | 1915 |
| Collapsed | April 2, 2002 (arson) |
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Jeffries Ford Bridge
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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| MPS | Parke County Covered Bridges TR |
| NRHP reference No. | 78000394 |
| Added to NRHP | December 22, 1978 |
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The Jeffries Ford Covered Bridge was a special wooden bridge located southwest of Bridgeton, Indiana, United States. It was a type of bridge called a Burr Arch covered bridge, meaning it had a strong arch design inside. A famous builder named J. A. Britton built this bridge in 1915. Sadly, it was completely destroyed by fire in 2002.
The Bridge's Story
Building the Bridge
When the Jeffries Ford Bridge was built, its builder, Joseph A. Britton, was 75 years old. He was a very experienced bridge builder. His family, especially his sons, helped him construct many bridges. In the same year, his son Eugene Britton also built another bridge nearby, called the Bowsher Ford Covered Bridge.
In 1978, the Jeffries Ford Bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This meant it was recognized as an important historical site.
How the Bridge Was Lost
Just a few weeks before the Jeffries Ford Covered Bridge was destroyed, another bridge, the Jackson Covered Bridge, had been damaged. On April 2, 2002, the Jeffries Ford Bridge was intentionally set on fire and completely burned down.
People in Parke County really wanted to rebuild the bridge. They tried to collect money to do so. However, another important bridge, the Bridgeton Covered Bridge, also burned down. Because of this, the community decided to rebuild the Bridgeton Bridge first. The Jeffries Ford Bridge was then replaced with a modern concrete bridge.
Images for kids
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Remains of the Jeffries Ford Bridge, seen from the south side.
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The stone support (pier) of the Jeffries Ford Bridge.
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The old, unused road south of where the Jeffries Ford Bridge used to be.
