(
Archived Bridge Hunter;
Bridge Hunter;
Historic Bridges;
HAER;
Satellite)
This 647' (197m) long bridge has four 164' (50m) spans. [BridgeHunter]
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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]
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| Aug 2015 photo by Chris Meiners via BridgeHunter |
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| Aug 2015 photo by Chris Meiners via BridgeHunter |
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| Aug 2015 photo by Chris Meiners via BridgeHunter |
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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]
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John Poston posted
Near Tracy, IA. DesMoines river. |
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| John Poston commented on his post |
The Abandoned Iowa Project
posted four photos with the comment:
Update: a local has reported damage and crumbling on one of the bridges support pylons.
The bridge may come down soon.
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Eveland Bridge- Mahaska County, Iowa
In 1854, the Eveland Ferry service began carrying horse, and wagon traffic across the Des Moines River in rural Mahaska County.
The ferry service operated for two decades before the persistent petitions of Mahaska County residents to construct a permanent bridge were finally heard.
Construction on the Eveland Bridge officially began in 1876. An engineering firm from Fort Wayne, Indiana won the bid to construct the hulking multi-span bridge.
The bridge served as a vital crossing for Mahaska County commerce for decades following its dedication in 1877.
Currently, the superstructure of the bridge remains relatively solid despite years of damage from flooding and ice jams. The deck, however, is nearly non-existent.
Most original planks have disintegrated or fallen into the muddy depths below.
Notably, this bridge is one of only seven Whipple truss-style bridges remaining in Iowa; an very rare configuration for wagon bridges.
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