Bell Ford Bridge

Infobox_nrhp | name =Bell Ford Post Patented Diagonal "Combination Bridge"
nrhp_type =


caption =
location= Seymour, Indiana
lat_degrees = 38
lat_minutes = 58
lat_seconds = 24
lat_direction = N
long_degrees = 85
long_minutes = 55
long_seconds = 46
long_direction = W
locmapin = Indiana
area =
built =1885
architect= Blish, John; Patterson, Robert, et al.
architecture= Other
added = March 25, 2005
governing_body = Local
refnum=05000194cite web|url=http://www.nr.nps.gov/|title=National Register Information System|date=2008-04-15|work=National Register of Historic Places|publisher=National Park Service]

The Bell Ford Post Patented Diagonal "Combination Bridge", often simply called the Bell Ford Bridge or Bell Ford Covered Bridge, is a dilapidated covered bridge located in Jackson County, Indiana, northwest of Seymour, Indiana. The bridge originally passed over the East Fork of the White River on a former alignment of State Road 258, and was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on March 25, 2005. [ [http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080822/NEWS02/808220795/1025/NLETTER08&source=nletter-news Covered bridge remains to move — Jackson span set for park in Indy] "Associated Press" August 22, 2008]

The bridge was originally built in 1869. Built in two sections, the wood and iron bridge measured 325 feet long. It reflects a time when the construction of bridges switched from wood to steel; the unusual use of both materials has made it said that the Bell Ford Bridge is "the best representation of theAmerican engineering “combination” bridge form". [" [http://www.in.gov/dnr/files/2005jan.pdf JANUARY 2005 — INDIANA NATIONAL AND STATE REGISTER LISTINGS] " (Indiana DNR, 2005)] ["AP" August 22, 2008] Until 1970 it was regularly used by both cars and animals. The western span collapsed in February 1999 during a windstorm, and the eastern span collapsed on January 2, 2006, nine months after it made the National Register. ["AP" August 22, 2008] [Indiana DNR, 2005] With its collapse, no other Post Truss covered bridges were still standing in the entire world. [" [http://www.countyhistory.com/coveredbridge/jackson1.htm BELL FORD COVERED BRIDGE] " Indiana County History Preservation Society, 2006] [" [http://www.jacksoncountyin.com/bridges.htm Bridges of Jackson County, Indiana] " Jackson County Visitor Center, 2008]

After the Bell Ford Bridge's January 2006 collapse, Jackson County Commission President Gary Darlage said: "There is nothing left of the Bell Ford Bridge and I will not spend another tax dollar on it. Ninety percent of the people in this county think it is asinine to even consider rebuilding that bridge. [Wetzel, January. Jackson County seeks Bridge Funds "The Tribune" (Seymour, Indiana). May 19, 2006] On July 25, 2007, United States Representative Baron Hill announced that the National Historic Covered Bridge Preservation Program would be giving the Bell Ford Bridge and two other covered bridges in Jackson County $2.08 million total for restoration. $448,000 of the grant was for the Bell Ford Bridge. [Wetzel, January. Grant aids spans "The Tribune" (Seymour, Indiana). July 25, 2007]

On August 19, 2008, the commissioners of Jackson County voted 3-0 to sell what remained of the bridge to an interest group who intended to rebuild the bridge at Fort Benjamin Harrison State Park in Indianapolis, Indiana, over sixty miles (100 km) away from its current location. It would allow walkers and bikers to cross over Fall Creek. The restoration is expected to take two years and cost $2 million (USD), with a hope that federal grants will be available. It has been promised that historical markers will denote its history in Jackson County, but some preservationists in Jackson County decry it being moved, saying the grant money was already there to pay for its renovation in Jackson County. ["AP" August 22, 2008]

References