Bridges of Indiana's Counties - Parke Co. - #50 Beeson (15/31)

The Beeson Bridge lives on in the Billie Creek Village outside Rockville.

The Village is home to a couple other bridges - the Billie and Leatherwood Station Covered Bridges.  (As noted in the Billie and Leatherwood Station blogs, the Billie Creek Village was closed in 2018.)

The Beeson was built in 1906, moved in 1979 to the village of living history in Parke County.

It was originally close to the village of Marshall, but took the name of a nearby landowner, William Beeson.  The Beason family's history stretched back to a cabin built in 1835 and his descendants continued to live on the land in the late 20th century.

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The Beeson cabin was preserved for posterity by the Billie Creek Village in 1969, so it made sense for the Beeson Bridge to live there too.

It's future was a bit murky after arsonists attempted to destroy it twice during August of 1979.  It was moved again by a flooding Williams Creek in 1989 then returned to its new home in the history village.  The Beeson replaced a small footbridge over "Billie" Creek.

Roofing the old bridge and moving it into place cost the county and village nearly $40,000.  It was originally built for $20,000.
Parke Co., IN
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Beeson Covered Bridge Facts:

Built: 1906 by Frankfort Construction

Style: Burr Arch Truss

Length:  55 feet over Williams Creek, originally spanned Big Raccoon Creek.

See more covered bridges by following the link 

You may notice a different number next to Beeson.  A couple weeks ago I discovered missing a covered bridge - with it's appearance last week this is the 50th bridge of Indiana's 91.  dwm

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