[IndianaTrails] CANAL UPDATE--An old bridge comes back to life

[Dan McCain]

  Roy Patrick, Lafayette; Charlie Johnson, Flora; Al Auffart, Cutler; 
  and Ed Gruber, Delphi.  Ed is checking for perfect vertical level of
  the caisson before the concrete was poured around the base.

  AN OLD BRIDGE COMES BACK TO LIFE

  Volunteers with the Wabash & Erie Canal Association placed one of the four upright metal caissons deep into the side bank of the canal behind Dairy Queen.  The wrought iron 30 inch "tube" extends 14 feet up from a concrete foundation poured a week earlier.  All of this is in the watertable so it was necessary to pump out the groundwater before placement and leveling.  By the end of that morning 5 more yards of concrete were poured around that single caisson.  Thanks to Brim Concrete in Flora for a nice price break.

  Jack Cohee operates the big machinery to lift this very heavy member of the iron Stearns Truss bridge.  The first setting of this bridge was in 1905 in Pulaski County as the Big Monon Ditch was being extended into the vast, flat marshes near Medaryville.  This bridge has been moved twice now and the last time (about 1913) the workmen poured concrete inside the metal tube.  That made it very difficult to move and place but we think in 1913 they never planned to move it again so that is why the concrete and not loose rubble inside the tube.  Since arriving in Carroll County last year on a donated semi trailer re-erection will be THE last time this historic bridge will ever be moved.

  Restoration work is being assisted by Ross Brown, a blacksmith at his shop in southern Carroll County.  Lately the volunteer work onsite in Delphi involves cleaning and painting the approximately 100 pieces of wrought iron making up this 78 foot long, very rare bridge.  This span design was patented by Wm. Stearns in the late 1800s and used as a lightweight bridge capable of being moved by unpinning the component members.  Pulaski County officials brought a dozen or so of these structures from the Winamac Bridge Company in the early 1900s.



  Canal restoration work in this location is about finished but still looking rough until graded and seeded.  In the near future a layout of the bridge members for re-erection will begin on the east side of the canal (to the right) where land is level and access good.  Cranes will be needed to position the structure over the four caisson posts when erection is completed sometime this summer.  


  Volunteers Don Smith, Delphi and Al Auffart, Cutler applying the tar coating to this unique foundation

  Anyone interested in working as a volunteer or helping with much needed financial support is urged to contact Dan McCain with the Canal Association in Delphi.

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