Martin Road Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Martin Road Bridge
|
|
Martin Road Bridge at the original location
|
|
| Nearest city | Corunna, Michigan |
|---|---|
| Area | less than one acre |
| Architect | Mt. Vernon Bridge Co. |
| Architectural style | Pratt through truss bridge |
| NRHP reference No. | 91000876 |
| Added to NRHP | July 12, 1991 |
The Martin Road Bridge, also called the Valley Mills Bridge, was once a road bridge. It helped people cross the Shiawassee River in Caledonia Township, near Corunna. This bridge was one of Michigan's oldest metal bridges. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1991. In 2016, the bridge was moved from its first home. It will be fixed up and put back together at the Auburn Heights Preserve in Yorklyn, Delaware.
Contents
History of the Martin Road Bridge
Building the Bridge
Around 1850, a settler named Titus Yerkes built a dam and a mill near this spot. Later, another mill was built. This area became a busy place for milling grain. We don't know exactly when the first bridge was built here. But a bridge was definitely in place by 1874.
This early bridge was likely washed away by floods in the 1880s. So, in 1885, Caledonia Township hired the Mount Vernon Bridge Company. This company, from Mount Vernon, Ohio, was asked to design and build a new bridge. They then put this new bridge in place. This is the only known highway bridge built by this company that still exists in Michigan.
Changes Over Time
The Martin Road Bridge was used for many years. However, the mills that made this river crossing important were gone by 1908. Over time, the bridge itself started to wear out. It was closed to traffic in 1987 because it was no longer safe.
In 2015, the township sold the bridge. It was bought by the Auburn Heights Preserve in Yorklyn, Delaware. In 2016, the bridge was carefully taken apart. A company called Bach Steel removed all its pieces. Now, the bridge is being repaired and will be put back together in its new home.
What Makes the Martin Road Bridge Special?
The Martin Road Bridge is a single-span bridge. This means it crosses the river with one long section. It is a metal bridge with a special design called a Pratt through truss. This design uses metal bars connected with pins. The bridge is 119 feet long. It is fifteen feet wide between its main support structures.
The bridge deck, where cars used to drive, is made of wooden planks. These planks are supported by strong metal beams. When the bridge was in its original spot, it rested on stone walls. These walls were built from rough fieldstones on each side of the river. You can find a special plaque on one end of the bridge. This plaque tells you that the Mt. Vernon Bridge Company built it in 1885.
