Bridges of Iowa Counties - Marion Co.

Hammond Bridge.  11/2/2019 dwm photo

A man saw a problem and asked his local government for help.

That scenario doesn't always produce results the citizen may be looking for, but in this case Samuel B. Hammond did.

All these years later, it still stands, a National Historic landmark.

My journey made it clear why Mr. Hammond wanted a bridge... it is a long way from every place.

North Cedar Creek has eroded much of the north shore.
11/2/2019 dwm photo

The bridge is privately owned, open only to pedestrians.  There is a small area to park near the bridge deck extension.

East of the bridge, where I stood for the photo at right, there is a concrete passage through the stream.  The stream has moved a lot since 1894 when the bridge was first built.

According to the document which lead to its National Historic Site status, light traffic was still crossing the creek over this bridge 100 years later.

The bridge stretches 178 feet from shore to shore, 100 feet
of it covered.  11/2/2019 dwm photo

The area is isolated even in 2019.  The closest community is Attica, which is home to less than 100 people.

That's the town Mr. Hammond wanted to reach.  Back then it probably offered more to locals than now.  Except now, it is a bridge bringing folks to town.

Hammond Covered Bridge
Built:  1894
Style:  Covered Howe through Truss
Length: 178 feet over North Cedar Creek

Next week is Thanksgiving, so a holiday blog will appear - come back in two weeks for the next covered bridge blog.

You can see more covered bridges by following this link.