Thorpe Ford Covered Bridge

The Thorpe Ford Covered Bridge is northeast of Rosedale, Indiana. The single span Burr Arch Truss covered bridge structure was built by Joseph A. Britton in 1912.[4][5]

Thorpe Ford Covered Bridge
Thorpe Ford Covered Bridge
Coordinates	39°38′13.45″N 87°15′52.75″W
Carries	Rosedale-Catlin Road
Crosses	Big Raccoon Creek, Indiana
Locale	Parke, Indiana, United States
Official name	Thorpe Ford Covered Bridge
Named for	Thorpe Ford
Maintained by	Parke County
WGCB Number	14-61-07 [1]
Characteristics
Design	National Register of Historic Places
Total length	181 ft (55 m)163ft +9ft overhangs on each end
Width	16 ft (4.9 m)[2]
Height	13 ft (4.0 m)
History
Constructed by	Britton, J.A.
Built	1912
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
MPS	Parke County Covered Bridges TR
NRHP reference No.	78000413 [3]
Added to NRHP	Dec 22, 1978
Thorpe Ford Covered Bridge Location of the Thorpe Ford Bridge in Indiana

It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.[3]

History

Around the area where the bridge is built was originally called Thorpe Ford, named after the family that owned much of the land near the ford. The building of the bridge at this location can be attributed to County Commissioner J.M. May. It seems that after his election to County Commissioner he was attempting to travel from Rosedale to Rockville. Obtaining a short cut that would bypass Coxville he set out for Rockville. After following the convoluted directions and getting lost several times he promised that a new bridge would be built.

With the construction of the Thorpe Ford Covered Bridge the road became a major route from Terre Haute to Crawfordsville. It was nicknamed the "Ben Hur Highway" for General Lew Wallace who was a famous Crawfordsville resident and author of the famous novel Ben Hur. Many elephants and other circus animals crossed here on the way to winter camp in Peru, Indiana.

In the 1930s the WPA paved the road with concrete but most traffic was diverted to U.S. Highway 41 after its construction in the 1920s. However, heavy agricultural traffic continued to use the road which in 1960 led to the bridge being condemned and bypassed in 1961.[4]

Gallery

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See also

• List of Registered Historic Places in Indiana
• Parke County Covered Bridges
• Parke County Covered Bridge Festival

References

1. http://www.indianacrossings.org/bridgeLinks/14-61-07.html
2. "Thorpe Ford Covered Bridge (#16)". Parke County Convention & Visitors Commission. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
3. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. January 23, 2007.
4. "Thorpe Covered Bridge". Parke County Incorporated / Parke County Convention and Visitors Commission. Retrieved 2012-10-18.
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.