Richland Creek Covered Bridge

Burr Truss
1883 Kennedy's

It is the only remaining covered bridge in existence in Greene county. Also known as Greene CCounty Bridge No. 86

It is a single span Burr Truss structure that consists of a total length of 100 feet, or 120 feet including the 10-footoverhang at each end, the width of the bridge is 14 feet wide and the height of the bridge is 13 feet.

It was built by Archibald Kennedy & Sons in 1883 at an approximate cost of $3,500. The company was awarded the contract on 9 June 1883. When the bridge was orginally built, the Board of Commissioners orded it paid for out of the county treasury.

The stone for the base of the bridge was quarried approximately a half mile west of where the bridge was built. The piling of the bridge was pounded into the ground until it reached a layer of roak with a heavy object. This was done by using a mule to raise the heavy object with a pulley system, then the trip rope was released which pounded the piling into the ground.

The bridge itself was prefabricated in the yard of the A.M. Kennedy Construction Company while the base of the bridge was bing built. It was then hauled by wgaon to the site and put together.

It is located on the old Bloomfield-Scotland Road [Base Road, Taylor Twp.] or the Old Scotland Road and when the State Route numbers was assigned to certain roads , the road became State Road 157 and it also became the major route from Bloomfield to Crane. Yet another description of its location is given as: crosses Plummer Creek, just south of Bloomfield on Seminary Road about 2.5 miles, in Section 35, Township 7 North, and Range 5 West, Greene County. Another direction for it is listed as: S. of Bloomfield, Taylor Township. U.S. 231 S. 3.6 miles from junction with IN54 in Bloomfield, W. on CR300S 0.75 miles, N. on Base Rd. 1.2 miles to the bridge and the GPS is given as latitude N38 59.58 longitude W86 56.27. It was a victim of the improved state highway system that evolved around 1949 and with the construction of a new section of U. S. 231 from Bloomfield to Crane it moved the traffic away for the old road. It is also known as the Plummer Creek covered bridge. Because of much need repairs the bridge was closed in 1957.

The foundation and the roof was repaired in 1967 to its original condition with the exception that two windows were added and the ornamental trim was not replaced; as the company felt that they could not replace alot of the fancy work as it had been done with the skill at which the orginial work had been done. This renovation was done through the contribution of J. L. Wilson and G. W. Hays Construction Companies; both being Greene county businesses. This was done at no cost to the county and was totally funded by these two companies; financing for the supplies and labor during the project was provided by Wilson. Jake Wilson was bridge builder from Bloomfield and Joe Hays, was a highway engineer. It was again closed on 16 March 1990 by the county commissioners and its fate was deemed uncertain for a period of time.

Through the years since it was restored in 1967 it has been vandalized many times.

The county can receive $750 a year to help maintain covered bridges from the State Highway Fund and but it cannot be used for anything else, according to a representative of the Indiana Covered Bridge Society, and the requirement is that it must be open to traffic whether, highway, bike Trail, foot trail or the money is discontinued.

On 30 June 1990 according to the Auditor's office the accumulated funds was $1750 another source stated around 1 April 1990 that the accumulated funds were $2500.

It was placed on the National Register of Historic place on 10 June 1993, site registration number 93000466. In 1977 was listed in the World Guide as #14-28-01. Also known as county bridge #86.

The Greene County Landmarks Foundation, was established in 1992/3 and their first major project was the Richland Creek Covered Bridge. The "Covered Bridge Fund" was established to help restore and preserve this last remaining bridge. I Sept. 1993 they applied to the Public Service Indiana Foundation for a community improvement grant to help fund this project and in Feb. 1994 a PSI representative presented a check for $2,000.00 to the Landmarks Foundation for the project.

Restoration of the bridge began around 5 or 12 May 1997 by F. E. Gates Company, a subsidiary of Blakely Corporation of Indianapolis. It is estimated that the cost of renovation would of been around $299,000. When completed the bridge will be open to foot traffic only.

During the dismantling of the covered bridge it was found that it was leaning more than had been anticipated. Thus a permit had to be obtained by the firm from the Department of Natural Resources before the second phase of renovation could be started in order to be able to work in the stream bed underneath the bridge. Once the permit was granted they went to work temporarily shoring the bridge up attaching cable lines to the bank in order to stabilize the bridge. This shoring held the bridge up while the arches, which actually support the bridge, were being replaced; a procedure when completed squared and leveled the structure.

Materials for the bridge included 31,600 board feet of new timber, of that was 6,300 board feet of oak flooring. The roof was replaced with 2,600 square feet of shake shingles. Several support beams, including both lower cords (horizontal support beams) were replaced. Approximately half of the burr arches and the entire east abutment also had to be replaced. Southern Yellow No. 1 Pine was used to restore the bridge except for the following areas: cedar shakes for the roof, poplar wood for siding, and oak wood for the flooring. Other supplies included 3/4-inch bolts, pole barn nails, glulams (a type of wood) for floor beams, and stringers (a type of reinforcement).

Changes in the original plans involved adding oak flooring, replacing additional timbers, and using a fire retardant. The installation of oak decking would allowed light vehicles--cars and pick-up trucks that weigh up to three tons--to cross the bridge. The original contract initially called for posts to be placed in front of the bridge, allowing only pedestrian traffic. This change added $4,000 to the project but not because of the oak flooring costing more. With the hard wood, the crew had to pre-drill over 4,000 holes for bolts instead of simply using a nail gun for securing the flooring.

The two small windows that had been added during the 1967 restoration project were not replaced in the 1997 renovation as they were not part of the original covered bridge design.

It has been estimated that the completed bridge will last about 75 years without any major restoration, by the F. E. Gates Company.

In the end $344,000 was spent on the renovation of the covered bridge; that was $155,000 more than was original anticipated when the project was began. But another source - The Transportation Enhancement Projects - Indiana listed the Richland Creek Covered Bridge project at a cost of $431,250; $345,00 of if being in federal grants and $86,250 in matching funds raised by individuals and organizations within Greene county.

After the extensive structural renovation it was re-opened in 1998. The spring opening date was delayed because shortly after the completion of renovation vandals had knocked a hole in the 115 year old structure; thus forcing the Greene County Landmarks Foundation to look for funds to repair the damage.

Besides this vandalism it also it has been the victim of several malicious attack of vandalism over the years with the intent to destroy it.

Belowa are the varied photographs that have been collected over the years of the Richland Creek Covered Bridge.

The original bridge as pictured below reads: A. M. Kennedy & Sons 1883 Builders M. Crocket, J. Miller, R. T. McKee Commissioners who On June 9, 1883, negotiated the contract for the Richland Creek Covered Bridge was given to Archibald M. Kennedy and his sons, and the bridge was completed on October 1, 1883; this was the last bridge that A. M. Kennedy built before turning the company over fully to his sons.

below is the picture of the bridge shortly after the bridge was condemned by the county commissioners. A huge pile of rocks was dumped at the approaches at each end of the bridge.

An article on the bridge was found in the Bloomfield News dated 7 Apr. 1988 Under a picture of the bridge was as follows:

The Century-old Covered bridge on Old Scotland Road south of Bloomfield will be replaced soon by a new concrete bridge. The Greene County Commissioners, however, have requested that the covered bridge remain where it is located>

Old bridge to be Replaced, but saved
The Greene County Commissioners, in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration and the Indiana Department of Highways, are developing plans for a new bridge and roadway over Plummer Creek on the Old Scotland Road about two miles south of Bloomfield.

The concrete bridge will be built southeast of the old covered bridge, the commissioners desired that the old bridge be retained in its place. The one-lane, tin-roofed bridge was built in 1883 by A. M. Kennedy and Sons. The Greene County Commissioners at the time the bridge was constructed were M. Crockett, J. Miller and R. T. Mckee.

The bridge was restored in 1967 by J. L. Wilson Construction with G. M. Hays as engineer.

and another article also in the Bloomfield News dated 8 May 1997 as follows:

Covered Bridge project starts
The Sunshine pouring through the now-gaping holes in the Richland-Plummer Creek Covered Bridge is a sure sign that work is progressing on the $300,000 restoration project.

" It' s a slow process", said F. E. Gates project manage John Kindler. Since May 2, Gates crews have been dismantling parts of the dilapidated structure, making way for fresh Tennessee yellow pine and oak timber to restore the bridge to its former glory. Kindler said he hopes to have the project done before the annual Apple Festival on Oct. 3, 4, and 5.

Built by A. M. Kennedy & Sons in 1883, the bridge is the only one remaining of the five such wooden structures built in the county. In 1990, the 100-foot long wooden bridge was closed because the state determined it was structurally unsafe.

A short time later, Dola Long and the Greene County Landmarks Foundation began their efforts to preserve the bridge, hosting fundraisers, selling knickknacks and anything else they could think of to raise $25,000 to pay for engineering costs for the project.

Earlier this year, their efforts paid off and the Blakely Corp. of Indianapolis was awarded the 100-day contract. Gates is a division of Blakely. Grants are paying for much of the work.

And work it has been.

A Better-built bridge
Water blasting was done to remove years of painted graffiti's, Kindler said Wednesday. Carvings in the wood date back to the 1940's.

Crews have also been removing deteriorating sections of siding, roofing and rafters.

The best sections of old wood are being preserved for use as possible mementos, he said.

Some of the original nails are also being saved, he said. "It's really one of the better built bridges you could have", Kindler said. "When we redo the arches and replace the timbers, it will be structurally sound". When the works in done, there will be 31,600 board feet of new timber, including 6,300 board feet of oak flooring. The roof will include 2,600 square feet of shake shingles.

The first phase of the project will end on Friday, and the second phase likely won't begin until sometime in late June, after the firm gets a permit from the state Department of Natural Resources.

The permit will allow crews to work in the stream bed while they temporarily shore up the bridge, Kindler said.

Long said she has made a few trips to the bridge to keep tabs on the progress.

"Everybody seems awful happy that this has finally started", she said. "I thinks it's coming along".

A plaque on the bridge from the Robbins Lightning Protective Co. of Maryville, Missouri, shows that the bridge was lightning proofed. Kindler is trying to find out more about when that occurred.

A surprise crews have found is the bridge is leaning more than anticipated, Kindler said.

While shoring it up, Kindler said workers will also square and level it. "Doing the shoring will take the longest time, two or three weeks", He said

The shoring will hold the bridge up while the arches, which actually support the bridge are replaced. "You will hear the bridge scream when we do it", Kindler said. "It will pop and crack. You're moving wood that hasn't t moved for maybe 100 years"

Long said she anticipates crew may find more surprises as they begin shoring up the bridge.

Change in the plans.
One change in the original plans call for installing oak decking allow light vehicles - - cars and pickup truck only - - to cross the bridge.

The contract initially called for posts to be placed in front of the bridge allowing only pedestrian traffic, Kindler said.

The change will add about $4,000 to the project, but not because oak .

Books and articles on the covered bridges of Greene county, Indiana.

"Richland Creek Covered Bridge," History of Greene County, Indiana: 1885-1989. Dallas: Taylor Publishing

Roach James. Richland-Plummer Creek Covered Bridge: A Bridge Description and History. Bloomfield: Greene County Landmark Foundation.

Flynn, Faye L. "Many Bridges in County Have Unique Histories," Linton Daily Citizen.

Burk, Jodi. "Covered Bridge Project Starts," The Evening World, August 18, 1997.

Sheckler, Jackie. "Old Bridge to Get New Chance," The Herald-Times, March 11, 1997.

History of Greene and Sullivan Counties, State of Indiana From Earliest Time to the Present; Together with Interesting Biographical Sketches, Reminiscences, Notes, Etc. Chicago: Goodspeed Brothers and Company, 1884.

Gatewood, Arthur Jr.'s, Indiana Covered Bridge Location Guide

Last updated 4.11.2009