Beeson Covered Bridge

The Beeson Covered Bridge originally crossed Roaring Creek, one mile (1.6 km) northwest of Marshall, Indiana, on County Road 216, in Washington Township, Parke County. The bridge was moved to its current location in Billie Creek Village in December 1979.

Beeson Covered Bridge
Beeson Covered Bridge in Billie Creek Village
Coordinates39°45′47.68″N 87°12′23.18″W
CarriesPedestrian traffic (Not open to vehicular traffic)
CrossesWilliam's Creek
LocaleRockville,
Adams Township, Parke County, Indiana
Official nameBeeson Bridge
Named forThe Beeson Family[1]
WGCB #14-61-24[2]
Characteristics
DesignBurr arch truss bridge
MaterialConcrete (foundations)
Trough constructionWood
Total length55 ft (16.8 m)
Width16 ft (4.9 m)
No. of spans1
Clearance above12.5 ft (3.8 m)
Beeson Covered Bridge (#38)
Location of Beeson Covered Bridge
Location of Beeson Covered Bridge
Location of Beeson Covered Bridge
Built1906 (1906)
Built byFrankfort Construction Company
WebsiteBeeson Bridge
Part ofParke County Covered Bridges TR (ID64000193)
NRHP reference No.78003447 [3]
Added to NRHPDecember 22, 1978
Location

Construction

The Beeson Covered Bridge is a single span Burr Arch covered bridge structure that was built by the Frankfort Construction Company in 1906. The bridge is 55 feet (17 m) long, 16 feet (4.9 m) wide, with a clearance of 12 feet 6 inches (3.81 m). The bridge had concrete foundations when it was built and was placed on concrete foundations when it was moved, but after a flood in 1989, the bridge was reset on creosoted wood.[4]

History

Many of the bridges in Parke County are named after a nearby city or the body of water they cross but due to another bridge across the county being named the Marshall Covered Bridge it was named after the nearby Beeson family. William H. Beeson, who was born in 1879, owned 53 acres of land near the bridge. It crossed Roaring Creek on C.R. 216, which is now C.R. 200N. Using the map that Parke County sent when filing for NRHP status, the bridge was originally located at: 39.859715°N 87.197165°W / 39.859715; -87.197165.[4][5]

The bridge was closed in 1969, because the abutments were declared unsafe. In March 1979, a nearby concrete bridge collapsed. This, along with the earlier closing of the Beeson Covered Bridge, caused a severe problem with access to Marshall, and nearby Turkey Run High School and Turkey Run State Park. The Roaring Creek Citizens Association (RCCA) was formed to address this problem.[4]

At 11:47 pm on August 9, 1979, just shortly after the RCCA had a meeting at Turkey Run High School, a fire was reported at the Beeson Bridge. Firefighters from Marshall, fought from the south end while firefighters from Bloomingdale, fought from the north end of the bridge. The fire was found to be a clear case of arson, fuel oil odors were still strong the following morning. The Parke County Sheriff's Department, Indiana State Police Department and the Indiana State Fire Marshal all were part of the investigation, owing that it is a registered national landmark the FBI probably had jurisdiction too but declined to join. Due to the fire happening so close to the RCCA meeting the RCCA threatened legal action with anyone accusing them of being connected with the fire.[4]

Less than a week later another fire was started just after midnight on August 15, 1979. A nearby neighbor saw someone at the bridge and heard a car turn around in his driveway. Shortly after that he saw flames at the bridge and contacted the Fire Department. The Marshall Fire Department found the bridge floor covered in flames but was quickly able to extinguish them.[4]

On December 4, 1979, the Buchta Trucking Company began moving the bridge to its current location over Williams Creek, in Billie Creek Village, Rockville. They first removed the roof and sides before transporting the rest of the bridge.[4]

  • Beeson Covered Bridge at Billie Creek Village

See also

References
  1. http://www.indianagenweb.com/inparke/Maps/1905ParkeCountyAtlasWashingtonTownship.jpg
  2. http://www.indianacrossings.org/bridgeLinks/14-61-24.html
  3. "National Register Information System – Beeson Covered Bridge (#38) (#78003447)". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. January 23, 2007. Retrieved August 30, 2018.
  4. Beeson Bridge.
  5. "Indiana State Historic Architectural and Archaeological Research Database (SHAARD)" (Searchable database). Department of Natural Resources, Division of Historic Preservation and Archaeology. Retrieved 2016-06-01. Note: This includes Charles Felkner (December 1977). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Form: Parke County Covered Bridge Historic District" (PDF). Retrieved 2016-06-01., Site map, and Accompanying photographs.

Bibliography
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