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Bridging the gap: County covered bridges on road to National Register listing
Of the approximately 90 covered bridges in the state of Indiana, 10 percent of them are here in Putnam County.
It’s an impressive number that’s second only to neighboring Parke County’s celebrated collection of 31 bridges.
Less impressive, though, is the number of local covered bridges currently listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Statewide, just 14 covered bridges are not on the National Register, with all nine of Putnam County’s on that list as well.
A group of preservationists are working to change this, and on Monday received the blessing of the Putnam County Commissioners to move forward with the process.
Phil Gick of the Heritage Preservation Society of Putnam County and Tommy Kleckner of Indiana Landmarks appeared before the Commissioners during their first February meeting, briefing them on where they are in the application process.
With no need for additional funds from the county, HPS, Landmarks and Putnam Parks & Pathways have come together to hire Kurt Garner to complete the application process for each of the nine bridges — which would all be listed separately.
Garner has completed more than 200 National Register applications in his career.
The applications will soon be submitted to the state, at which time a letter is sent to the owner of the property, in this case the commissioners. Monday’s briefing was simply to get the commissioners on record with the process before such a letter arrives.
One question on the minds of the commissioners and County Engineer Jim Peck was whether this would mean extra chanels the Putnam County Highway Department would have to navigate when it comes to maintenance of the structures.
Kleckner stressed National Register listing “is an honorific” and adds no additional restrictions to the upkeep of the structures.
He added, though, that since the bridges are deemed historically significant, restrictions are already in place for any projects involving federal money.
This would include an already proposed project to bypass Dunbar Bridge over Big Walnut Creek in Greencastle Township. At last check, that proposal had been made to INDOT, with local officials awaiting a decision on next steps.
“As long as you’re not using federal funds, there are no further restrictions,” Kleckner said. “National Register listing is not bringing any additional requirements.”
This may have eased another worry expressed by Peck, who noted that Oakalla Bridge was closed last fall due to structural concerns. At this point officials are hoping to make the proper repairs to get it reopened.
Bypassed bridges like the Dunbar proposal and Houck Covered Bridge (bypassed in 2014) could be eligible for further federal funds if listing comes to pass. Once they no longer carry vehicular traffic, the bridges cease to be eligible for road money.
But with National Register listing, “you then become eligible for some preservation dollars that you aren’t now,” Gick noted.
The two men noted that they don’t foresee a problem in getting the bridges listed, simply that it takes time, with two reviews at the state level before being sent on to federal officials.
“I’m not anticipating any issue with it,” Gick said. “But it takes time. It’s a slow process.”
The nine Putnam County covered bridges in consideration for National Register listing include:
Cornstalk Bridge
West County Road 1350 North spans Cornstalk Creek in Franklin Township on this 1917 Burr arch truss bridge. The single-span bridge is 82 feet long with a shingle roof and concrete abutments.
Pine Bluff Bridge
East County Road 950 North spans Big Walnut Creek in Jackson Township on this 1915 bridge — a variation of the Howe truss design that includes steel plates. The double span reaches a length of 211 feet, or 233 counting overhangs at each end. The roof is tin and the abutments of concrete.
Rolling Stone Bridge
Also built in 1915, this Burr arch bridge carries East County Road 800 North across Big Walnut Creek in Floyd Township. It stretches 103 feet on its single span with concrete abutments and metal roof. It takes its name from a large boulder in the creek that was rolled around by the action of the water. The boulder was subsequently removed to protect the bridge.
Baker's Camp Bridge
Also known as Hillis Bridge, the structure was built in 1901, bearing East County Road 650 North across Big Walnut in Floyd Township. A Burr arch design, the single-span bridge stretches 125 feet. The bridge was restored in 2015.
Edna Collings Bridge
It’s hard to say what the most enduring myth about this bridge is — that it is haunted by its namesake, a young girl who supposedly drowned nearby, or that it is actually Edna “Collins” Bridge. Suffice it to say that the latter is definitely incorrect and the former remains open for debate. Completed in 1922, long after the county had installed many more “modern” style bridges, it actually replaced a concrete bridge washed out by high water. The bridge carries West County Road 450 North across Little Walnut Creek in Clinton Township. The county’s shortest covered bridge, a single span crosses 80 feet with eight-foot overhangs.
Dunbar Bridge
Built in 1880, Dunbar carries West County Road 25 South across Big Walnut Creek in Greencastle Township, at least for now, as plans have been made to bypass and preserve the bridge. The two-span Burr arch is 174 feet long with 12-foot overhangs. The bridge was built by farmers on stone abutments from timbers cut on the Dunbar farm.
Oakalla Bridge
Carrying South County Road 375 West across Big Walnut in Madison Township, Oakalla gets its name from the former Oakalla Station along the Big Four Railroad. Built in 1898, it is 152 feet long with 15-foot overhangs. The bridge was closed to traffic in November 2022 due to structural issues, though county officials hope to reopen it to traffic.
Houck Covered Bridge
One of three covered bridges built across Big Walnut Creek in 1880, Houck formerly carried West County Road 550 South across a 210-foot span in Washington Township. The Howe truss bridge was restored and bypassed in 2014, but remains open to pedestrian traffic with a parking area to accommodate sight-seers. The bridge takes its name from the Houck family that owned the surrounding land at the time of construction, and is not to be confused with the former Houck Iron Bridge north of Greencastle.
Dick Huffman Bridge
At 265 feet, this two-span structure is Putnam County’s longest covered bridge. Like Dunbar and Houck, it was built in 1880 atop a stone substructure across Big Walnut Creek. Formerly known as Wekty Bridge, taking its name from a nearby mill, the bridge now carries Huffman Road across the creek in Washington Township.