Bridges of Indiana's Counties - Parke Co #52 - Conley's Ford 17/31

Conley's Ford Covered Bridge
Between Bridgeton and Mansfield in Parke Co.
7/3/2009  dwm photo

It is difficult to recall which Parke County bridge was my first, but I am fairly certain it was Conley's Ford Bridge I photographed on the first day of shooting.

As we make our way through Parke County's covered bridges, this is just 17 of 31.  There were so many, it took another weekend trip to shoot all of them.

Conley's Bridge was open to traffic nine years ago.  It was fun to cross on lanes of lumber.

The bridge, according to the Parke County capsules, has two things that make it special.

It is made of White Pine, most Parke County bridges were built with Poplar.

The Burr Arch Truss bridge crosses Big Raccoon Creek.
  7/3/2009 (dwm)

Second, for a single span bridge, it is said to be the fourth largest in the world.  A span is the space between bridge supports.  Conley's Bridge gets its only support at either end.

Its history shares it was built by men who also worked for the Parke County Road Department.

The Van Fossen brothers, I'm guessing, built their bridges on their own time.  J. Lawrence Van Fossen gets credit for the Conley's Ford bridge.

Jefferson P. Van Fossen is credited with the Adams, Jessup, and second Roseville bridges.

More than a century later, it looks like
nothing's changed.  7/3/2009 (dwm)

With a gravel road leading up to it, it seems little changed in the 100-odd years that elapsed since it was built to save travelers from getting wet crossing Conley's Ford.

The bridge was re-roofed and re-sided in 1991.

Parke County, IN
internet image

Conley's Ford Covered Bridge

Built:  1907 by J. Lawrence Van Fossen

Style:  Burr Arch Truss

Length: 192 feet, 4th longest single span bridge in world, over Big Raccoon Creek.

There are more covered bridges to read about if you click this link.