Mansfield Covered Bridge

Mansfield Covered Bridge
National Register of Historic Places
Mansfield Covered Bridge
Official name: Mansfield Covered Bridge
Named for: Mansfield, Indiana
Country	United States
State	Indiana
County	Parke
Township	Jackson
Road	Martin Road (C.R. 145)
City	Mansfield, Indiana
Crosses	Big Raccoon Creek
Coordinates
Length	279 ft (85 m) 247ft +16ft overhangs on each end
Width	16 ft (5 m)
Clearance	14 ft (4 m)
Load	10 tons
Builder	Daniels, J.J.
Design	Double Burr Arch truss double span bridge
Material	Wood
Built	September 4, 1867 Original cost $12,200
- Rebuilt	1990
Owned and Maintained by	Parke County
NBI Number	6100089
WGCB Number	#14-61-20
Added to NRHP	Dec 22, 1978
NRHP Ref#	78000399
MPS	Parke County Covered Bridges TR
Location of the Mansfield Bridge in Indiana Location of the Mansfield Bridge in Indiana
Location of Indiana in the United States

The Mansfield Covered Bridge is a Double Burr Arch double span truss bridge located on Mansfield Rd. (historic) and Big Raccoon Creek in Mansfield southeast of Rockville in Parke County, Indiana. Built by Joseph J. Daniels in 1867 at a cost of $12,200. At 279 feet it is the longest covered bridge left in Parke County.

History

Built for a time where only wagons, horses and pedestrians whould have used the bridge the Mansfield Bridge has a 10-ton load limit. The bridge had been used for State Route 59 and in one recorded story, three loaded oil trucks approached the bridge together. The first truck stalled out just before leaving the bridge, and all three trucks came to a stop on the two spans. There was no apparent damage to the strong structure. The arches combined with the truss are able to support more weight than needed so the limit is in the decking and material used for it.

Mansfield Bridge was closed in 1980 for repair to the abutments, roof and decking. The roof and decks were replaced again in October of 1990 by the Parke County Highway Department.

Gallery

The Mansfield Covered Bridge

Detail of Burr Arches and double span are visible because of the sunlight coming through the missing roof after 2006 storm Close-up of Double Burr Arches with roof missing after 2006 storm Roof restoration has begun after a spring 2006 storm removed over 50% of the roof

See also

• Big Rocky Fork Covered Bridge
• Mansfield Roller Mill
• Pleasant Valley Cemetery
• Parke County Covered Bridges
• List of Registered Historic Places in Indiana
• Parke County Covered Bridge Festival

External links

• Media related to at Wikimedia Commons
• Historic American Engineering Record (HAER) No. IN-44, "Mansfield Covered Bridge, Spanning Big Raccoon Creek, Mansfield, Parke County, IN"