Jeffries Ford Covered Bridge
| Jeffries Ford Covered Bridge | |
| Bridge | |
 | |
| Official name: Jeffries Ford Covered Bridge | |
| Named for: Jeffries Ford | |
| Country |  United States |
|---|---|
| State |  Indiana |
| County | Parke |
| Township | Raccoon |
| Road | Jeffries Ford Road (C.R. S150E) |
| Crosses | Big Raccoon Creek |
| Coordinates | 39°37′48.03″N 87°12′29.74″W / 39.6300083°N 87.2082611°WCoordinates: 39°37′48.03″N 87°12′29.74″W / 39.6300083°N 87.2082611°W [1] |
| Length | 222 ft (68 m) 204ft +9' overhangs on each end |
| Width | 16 ft (5 m) |
| Clearance | 13 ft (4 m) |
| Builder | Britton, J.A. |
| Design | Burr Arch truss double span bridge |
| Material | Wood |
| Built | 1915 |
| WGCB Number | 14-61-03x |
| Added to NRHP | Dec 22, 1978 |
| NRHP Ref# | 78000394[2] |
| MPS | Parke County Covered Bridges TR |
  Location of the Jeffries Ford Bridge in Indiana
| |
 Location of Indiana in the United States
| |
The Jeffries Ford Covered Bridge was southwest of Bridgeton, Indiana. The double-span Burr Arch covered bridge structure was built by J.A. Britton in 1915 and destroyed by arson on April 2, 2002.[3]
History
Construction
At the time the Jeffries Ford Bridge was built Joseph A. Britton was 75 years old. Throughout his years as a bridge builder Britton had been assisted by his family and this bridge was no different, some of his sons, four by his first wife and five by his second, would have done the actual construction work. His son Eugene Britton built the Bowsher Ford Covered Bridge the same year.
Destruction
Just a few weeks before the Jeffries Ford Covered Bridge was burnt down by arsonist the Jackson Covered Bridge had been damaged. On April 2, 2002 the Jeffries Ford Bridge was burnt to a total loss. The residents of Parke County wanted the bridge rebuilt and tried to raise enough funds to do it but with the burning of the Bridgeton Covered Bridge the decision was made to rebuild the Bridgeton Bridge and replace the Jeffries Ford Bridge with a modern concrete bridge.[4]
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Remains of the Jeffries Ford Bridge, taken from the south side.
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The Pier of the Jeffries Ford Bridge
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The abandoned road south of the Jeffries Ford Bridge Site.
See also
- List of Registered Historic Places in Indiana
- Parke County Covered Bridges
- Parke County Covered Bridge Festival
References
- ↑ "1905 Parke County Atlas Raccoon Township". indianagenweb.com. Retrieved 18 February 2015.
- ↑ Staff (2007-01-23). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.
- ↑ "Jeffries Ford Covered Bridge". coveredbridges.com. Parke County Convention & Visitors Commission. Retrieved 18 February 2015.
- ↑ "Jeffries Ford Covered Bridge 14-61-03x". Bridge Hunters. Retrieved 18 February 2015.
