1877 Eveland (Wilson's Ferry) Bridge over Des Moines River near Oskaloosa, IA

(Archived Bridge Hunter; Bridge Hunter; Historic Bridges; HAER; Satellite)

This 647' (197m) long  bridge has four 164' (50m) spans. [BridgeHunter]

HAER IOWA,62-OSK.V,2- -1
1. 3/4 VIEW FROM SOUTHWEST - Eveland Bridge, Spanning Des Moines River at 285th Street, Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, IA

"Significance: The Eveland Bridge is a rare example of a multiple-span Whipple truss bridge. A less common variation on the Pratt truss, the Whipple truss was seldom used for wagon trusses in Iowa, and only seven remain today. Spanning the Des Moines River, the Eveland Bridge was the primary connection for southwest Mahaska County and played a major role in county commerce for decades after its erection." [HAER_data]

HAER IOWA,62-OSK.V,2- -5
5. 3/4 VIEW FROM SOUTHEAST, VERTICAL

Aug 2015 photo by Chris Meiners via BridgeHunter

Aug 2015 photo by Chris Meiners via BridgeHunter

Aug 2015 photo by Chris Meiners via BridgeHunter

The Eveland Bridge with an 1877 construction date is perhaps the oldest Des Moines River Bridge remaining today. The bridge was originally built as a four span Whipple truss, but the northernmost span was replaced in 1903 with a Pratt through truss following a major flood which wiped out that span. Today, as a bridge containing three Whipple truss spans, it is one of the only known examples in the entire country of a highway truss containing more than two Whipple truss spans. 

There are several extremely rare and significant pin-connected truss bridges on the lower section of the Des Moines River. Each are distinguished as rare surviving examples of large, multi-span examples of their type. Among them, the Eveland Bridge stands out as the earliest example, and for its rare Whipple truss configuration and cast iron connection assemblies. The bridge was built by the Western Bridge Works of Fort Wayne, Indiana, in their first year of operating. The Western Bridge Works was a short lived company formed by two men, one an agent from Toledo, Ohio's Smith Bridge Company. The Western Bridge Works did well initially, but did not last long, shutting down in 1885. Based on HAER documentation, the firm was apparently known simply as as McKay and Nelson, after the names of the two people running it prior (or during) the formation of Western Bridge Works in 1877.

[HistoricBridges]

John Poston posted
Near Tracy, IA. DesMoines river.

John Poston commented on his post