Backyard Adventures

BACKYARD ADVENTURES 2015 Pike Publishing 17 Indiana's covered bridges are reminiscent of a more romantic time when people rode in horse-drawn buggies and couples stole kisses beneath protected roofs. But the bridges are also keepers of history. During the 1800s, bridge builders began putting roofs on bridges to protect wooden floors and trusses from the elements. It was easier and less expensive to maintain covers than the actual span. Covers also helped keep horses from being spooked by rushing waters over creeks and rivers. Covered bridges lasted for 100 years, or longer, whereas uncovered, wooden bridges lasted only 10 years. Two bridges in Gibson County are surviv- ing the test of time. The Old Red Bridge and the Wheeling Bridge, throughout more than 130 years of modernization, each has a story to tell. The Old Red Bridge, located near the southwest corner of the Gibson-Posey county line, stretches some 177 feet over Big Bayou Creek. A bridge with a roof was a source of pride for county residents, according to Richard Paul, former Gibson County Commissioner and history buff. The Old Red Bridge was constructed in 1875 and remained in use until 1975. The main frame of the bridge was con- structed in Pittsburg, Penn., transported by wagon and shipped by river barge from Cincinnati, Ohio, via the Ohio River to the Wabash River. It was reported that Dave Blair, a local businessman who owned several riverboats in the mid and late 1800s, transported the frame by steamboat, where it was unloaded at Shiloh in Sullivan County, Ind. "It was finally moved over land by mule, oxen and wagon to its present location," Paul said. "When I was commissioner, a group of us really tried to preserve it by planting flow- ers and landscaping the area surrounding the bridge." The Old Red Bridge was built near the di- viding line between farms originally belong- ing to John W. Robb and William J. Jordon. This bridge was long known in the western part of the county as the "Red Bridge," so called for its coat of red paint. The floor was constructed of native Burr Oak, cut by a local sawmill. The siding was made from Cypress timber cut in Posey Coun- ty. The roof was made of local hardwood. The Wheeling Bridge was built two years later. Located nearly 40 miles northeast of the Old Red Bridge, the Wheeling Bridge is 163 feet in length, spanning the Patoka River. Wheeling was originally known as Kirks- ville. Wheeling, at one time, was quite a busi- ness center, having a large flour-mill, stores, blacksmith shops, post office, millineries and other businesses. The bridge was built in 1877 by William T. Washer, who also constructed the Old Red Bridge. The builder used the Smith Truss design; the same design used on the Old Red Bridge. Little is known about William T. Washer, except for the covered bridges he built in southwestern Indiana. Washer was active in the period follow- ing the Civil War and built his last bridge at Pikeville in Pike County in 1887. He built at least 20 covered bridges, including the former eight in Evansville over Pigeon creek. The Wheeling Bridge closed to motorized traffic in 1976, but can still be crossed on foot. Restoration work on the bridge began in 1984 and continues today. Long-time residents recall that the timbers were supplied by the local J.W. Eads sawmill, located directly north of the covered bridge. Several times, mill operations came to a halt when the steam-engine tractor, belong- ing to the mill, shot sparks and ignited a fire on the bridge's roof. Mill workers would stop work to put out the fire. Spencer and Perry counties share a cov- ered bridge. The Huffman Mill Covered Bridge crosses the Anderson River on County Road 29, con- necting the counties of Spencer and Perry. This single span Burr Arch Truss structure has a length of 136 feet, or 156 feet includ- ing the 10 -foot overhang at each end, with a portal clearance 15 feet 6 inches wide by 11 feet 6 inches high. The bridge was constructed by William T. Washer in 1864 for the sum of $5,700 and named for the Huffman Mill. The bypass was built in 2004, and until that time, it was continually used. It was placed on the historic register in 1998. The Huffman Mill Dam was constructed in 1816 by George Huffman, a pioneer of Spen- cer County, Ind. He was one of a family group of brothers and sisters who moved west from Lancaster County, Penn., in 1804. According to historic records, the family left Corydon and headed to settle in Vin- cennes. Along the way, the family set up camp along Anderson Creek. George Huffman was impressed with the area and returned to the camp in 1809 to build his family home. Huffman and his wife were forced to leave this home in 1812 because of Indian conflicts. They traveled to settlements in Kentucky, where he joined the army as a volunteer and served in the War of 1812. He returned to his Indiana homestead with his wife and infant son after the war ended. He acquired more land and grew his property to more than 1200 acres. The Huffman family made their living as millwrights. In 1816, George Huffman constructed a dam and water mill for grinding corn and saw- ing timber. Settlers came to the original mill for many miles to get their corn and wheat ground, and for lumber to build homesteads. George Huffman died in the year 1854 and son, John Harrison Huffman, continued the pursuits of his father in milling, farming and stock. Before the Civil War, John Harrison Huff- man built a steam mill just west of the water mill. This mill burned in 1864. He rebuilt the dam and water mill that he and son, L. Q. Huffman, operated until 1888. The operation was taken over by L.Q. Huffman's son, John R. Huffman, who continued the family busi- ness until 1912, when the business was sold. The mill and dam were removed by the new owners. The Huffman Mill Bridge spans the An- derson River and connects two counties. The south end is in Spencer County and the north in Perry County. When Abraham Lincoln was a boy, living in northern Spencer County, he and his father brought grain there to be milled. There have been several restorations and the Spencer County Historical Society main- southern indiana's historic landmarks BRIDGE CENTURIES STORY AND PHOTOS BY FRAN PETIT SEE BRIDGE ON PAGE 18 C O V E R E D B R I D G E S The Old Red Bridge, spanning 177 feet over the Big Bayou River, can be accessed from I-64 through Griffin, or through the community of Owensville. Visitors can imagine the romance of a time gone by while exploring the scenic vistas along winding roads of Gibson County leading to the Wheeling Bridge. The Huffman Mill Covered Bridge crosses the Anderson River on County Road 29, connecting the counties of Spencer and Perry. Tilghman Williams mortgaged his farm, when Lawrence County ran out of money, so the Williams bridge could be built.

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