Cass County, Indiana - Chapter 15: Bridges, 1913

It is diflBcult for this generation to understand how the first settlers of the county managed to travel and get along without our numerous bridges of today. For twelve years after the first white man located in the county there was not a bridge within its limits. It was not until the year 1837-8 that the first bridge was built in Cass county ; this was the Third street bridge over the Wabash river. It was a substantial wooden-covered bridge and was opened for traflSc in the spring of JL838. It continued to be used until 1870 when the south span from Riddle's Island was replaced by the present **iron bridge," but not completed until the following year. The north span of this bridge, onto Riddle's Island, was replaced by the present **iron bridge" in 1876.

The first wooden bridge across the Wabash at Third street was erected by a private company and toll was charged the patrons who crossed over it. The toUgate was located on the island and was a familiar object for more than a quarter of a century. When the county took over the control of the bridges from the corporation that originally built them, this little toll house, with its gate, in the form of a pole that was lowered at night, were relegated to the past and exist only in the memory of a few pioneers.

The second bridge to be erected was the one across Eel river at Third street, which was built in 1846, Willis & GraflSs being the contractors, and the following year the Sixth street bridge over Eel river was erected. Roth of these structures were covered bridges. The old wooden Sixth street bridge was carried out by an ice gorge in Febniary, 1867, and the following summer an arched iron bridge was constructed. The latter became too light for heavy traflSc and was moved to Adamsboro and Pipe creek and the present heavy iron bridge at Sixth street was built in 1876.

The old covered bridge across Eel river at Third street weathered the storms and carried its burdens for over forty years, when in 1889 it was replaced by the present iron bridge and the same year by the same company the Wabash bridge at Cicott street was built. The iron work on the two bridges amounted to the sum of $39,000. Together with the abutments, piers and extras, the two bridges coMt the county over $50,000.

Many years ago there was quite a little island in the middle of Eel river at the foot of Market street. This island was covered with trees and was a resort for picnics, etc. After the laying out of Wm. L. Rrown's addition, known as *'Rrown Town," on the west side, an open wooden bridge was built known as ''Rrown's bridge,'' which extended from the foot of Market street onto this island and from the island to the foot of west Broadway. This bridge was erected about 1853, and was used for about twenty years, when it was torn down, Market street straightened and improved and an arched iron bridge erected where the present bridge stands. In 1895, this bridge was thought to be too light for the heavy traflSc of the street cars ajid was replaced by the substantial iron bridge now spanning Eel river at Market street.

In 1896 the old arch iron bridge from Market street was placed across Eel river at Broad Ripple ford. Prior to that time there was no bridge at this point.

covered bridge across the Wabash at Lewisburg which stood substantially as constructed over forty years ago until it was washed out in the great flood of March 26, 1913.

The bridge across the Wabash river at Eighteenth street was built in 1884 by Commissioners A. J. Sutton, James Buchanan and Henry Schwalm. It is a substantial iron bridge and a great convenience to the southeast section of the county.

John Davis, who then lived a half mile north of the river, was the prime mover in having this bridge built. He raised quite a sum by subscriptions from those especially interested, and the county board proceeded to construct this bridge across Eel river, near the north end of Twenty-fourth street.

Through. the eflforts of Thornton Tyson, the county commissioners were persuaded to build a bridge across Eel river, just south of Hoover's Crossing, thus connecting Adams and Miami townships, and opening direct commnnication between New Waverly and Hoover's and Twelve Mile. This is an iron bridge and was erected in 1883.

The farmers in the western part of the county were for many years urging the necessity of a bridge across the Wabash near Georgetown, as in time of high water all travel and traflSc between Clinton and Jefferson townships had to come to Logansport to cross the river. The board of commissioners finally granted the request of the people and built a covered wooden bridge across the Wabash river at Georgetown, eight miles west of Logansport, in 1883, which proved a great convenience to not only the western sections of the county, but to the pub- lie in general. This bridge was washed out by the unprecedented high water and ice gorges in the spring of 1912. The county board at once took measures to rebuild the bridge in the same location and in December, 1912, a substantial cement arched bridge was completed at a cost of nearly $40,000. This is the only bridge in the county of any size constructed of concrete arches and is said to be both beautiful and substantial.

The first bridge erected across Eel river at Adamsboro was an open wooden structure built in 1862. Prior to that time there was only a ford at this place, and in time of high water people could not cross the river here except in boats. The west half of this bridge was carried out by an ice gorge in March, 1866. It was repaired the following summer, but the whole bridge was completely swept away by the breaking of the heavy ice in February, 1867, which also took out the Sixth street bridge in Logansport. The following fall a new iron arch bridge

There are many bridges spanning smaller streams in Cass county and some of large size across Pipe creek, Deer creek, Twelve Mile and Crooked creek, and Cass may be termed a county of bridges, as Logansport is dubbed the city of bridges. Length of some of the bridges are as follows: