Leatherwood Station Covered Bridge

39°45′27.58″N 87°12′33.05″W / 39.7576611°N 87.2091806°W / 39.7576611; -87.2091806CarriesWalking trailCrossesWilliams Creek (Indiana)LocaleRockport, Parke, Indiana, United StatesOfficial nameLeatherwood Station Covered BridgeOther name(s)Harry Wolf BridgeNamed forLeatherwood StationMaintained byParke County Commissioners
Parke CountyWGCB #14-61-25^[1]CharacteristicsDesignBurr arch truss bridge^[2]Total length72 ft (21.9 m) (includes 9 ft (2.7 m) overhangs on each end)Width16 ft (4.9 m)No. of spans1Clearance above14 ft (4.3 m)HistoryConstruction cost<$680 Built1899 (1899)Built byJoseph A. BrittonWebsiteLeatherwood Station BridgePart ofParke County Covered Bridges TR (ID64000193)NRHP reference No.78000397 ^[3]Added to NRHPDecember 22, 1978 Location

The Leatherwood Station Covered Bridge is a single span double Burr Arch Truss covered bridge structure that was built by Joseph A. Britton & Son in 1899. Originally it had sandstone abutments but when it was moved to Billie Creek Village they were replaced with concrete abutments with sandstone showing.^[4][5]

History

The bridge was named after the nearby B&O Railroad station at its original location (39°48′55″N 87°17′57″W / 39.815141°N 87.299085°W / 39.815141; -87.299085 (Original location)). It was also known as the "Harry Wolf Bridge." Wolf owned the land near the bridge. The portal was later modified into a J. J. Daniels Arch while the original angular Britton Arch framing is still visible from the inside.

A letter from J. J. Daniels dated May 18, 1899, says that he had made a bid to build the bridge for $680. Since J. A. Britton was awarded the contract it can be assumed that his bid was less than Daniels.^[1]

According to Historic American Engineering Record documentation of the bridge, it was repaired in 1940 by the Works Progress Administration. It was built by Britton who built approximately 40 bridges in three Indiana counties, Parke, Putnam, and Vermillion, during a 33-year period.^[6]

It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.^[3]

Gallery

Images of Leatherwood Station Covered Bridge prior to being moved to Billie Creek Village.

Detail of splice in lower chord underneath bridge Detail of Northwest portal entrance bracing Exterior view of Southeast portal entrance Detail of Double Burr Arch South 3/4 view Detail of lower chord passing through double Burr Arch rings, viewed from below bridge (Note kerfs in arches) Detail of vertical King Post connection with lower chord, viewed from below with picture flipped 180 (Note kerfs in lower chord) Detail of double Burr Arch ring bearing on stone abutment, truss and lower chord Detail of double Burr Arch ring bearing on stone abutment, truss and lower chord View of abutment from under bridge: Detail of both double Burr Arches beating on stone abutment (Note damage to abutment) View from inside bridge, looking Southeast, showing upper wind bracing and ties, double Burr Arch rings, and truss framing

See also

• List of bridges documented by the Historic American Engineering Record in Indiana
• List of Registered Historic Places in Indiana
• Parke County Covered Bridges
• Parke County Covered Bridge Festival

References

External links