Nevins Covered Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Nevins Covered Bridge |
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Nevins Covered Bridge
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| Coordinates | 39°41′4.82″N 87°12′44.43″W / 39.6846722°N 87.2123417°W |
| Carries | C.R. 130E |
| Crosses | Little Raccoon Creek |
| Locale | Parke, Indiana, United States |
| Official name | Nevins Covered Bridge |
| Named for | Thomas Levi Nevins |
| Maintained by | Parke County |
| NBI Number | 6100028 |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | National Register of Historic Places |
| Total length | 169 ft (52 m)155ft +7ft overhangs on each end |
| Width | 16 ft (4.9 m) |
| Height | 13 ft (4.0 m) |
| History | |
| Constructed by | Britton, J.A. |
| MPS | Parke County Covered Bridges TR |
| NRHP reference No. | 78000406 |
| Added to NRHP | Dec 22, 1978 |
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The Nevins Covered Bridge is a cool old bridge in Parke County, Indiana. It's a special type of covered bridge called a Burr Arch Truss. This bridge crosses over Little Raccoon Creek. You can find it on County Road 130 East, near Catlin, Indiana.
A father and son team, Joseph A. Britton and Son, built this bridge in 1920. For a while, it was the newest covered bridge in Parke County! The Nevins Covered Bridge is so important that it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. This means it's a special landmark worth protecting.
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The Bridge's Story: A Look Back
The Nevins Covered Bridge was built in a place once known as Gilkerson's Ford. A "ford" is a shallow part of a river or creek where people and animals can cross easily.
Early Settlers and a Busy Ford
The Gilkerson family moved to this area in 1821. In 1823, Thomas Gilkerson built a mill near the ford. A mill is a building where grain is ground into flour. The Gilkersons were busy people! They worked as blacksmiths, carpenters, farmers, and millers. Soon, a small community grew up around their businesses.
In 1824, the Gilkerson community even tried to become the main town of Parke County. But they lost out to Rockville. From 1839 to 1846, the Gilkersons built several flatboats. These boats were used to carry goods down the Little Raccoon Creek. They would travel to the Big Raccoon Creek and then to the Wabash River during spring floods.
Who Was Thomas Levi Nevins?
Thomas Levi Nevins was born in 1869. In 1897, he bought the Gilkerson property. This is why the bridge is named after him! He was very interested in the old mill and saved many items from it.
By 1906, Thomas Nevins was part-owner of another mill. In 1910, he rebuilt a flour mill in Rosedale. Sadly, this mill burned down in 1911 after only 18 months. Thomas Nevins was also a school teacher in the nearby village of Minshall.
Building the Last Covered Bridge
The Nevins Covered Bridge holds a special place in history. It was the last bridge built that is credited to Joseph A. Britton. He was 83 years old when he built it, and he lived to be 91!
Joseph A. Britton's son, Eugene Britton, likely did much of the work on the Nevins bridge. This bridge was also the very last historical covered bridge built in Parke County. It marked the end of an important time for covered bridge construction in the area.
