Stockheughter Covered Bridge - Enochsburg Bridge, Batesville Indiana

Date added: December 31, 2023 Categories: Indiana Covered Bridges Howe Truss

South bridge entry and approach apron (looking north) (2001)

Constructed in 1891, Stockheughter Covered Bridge is one of two covered bridges still standing in Franklin County and one of 22 Howe Truss bridges in Indiana. The bridge has been a connecting link between Enochsburg and historic Oldenburg, Hamburg, and Batesville. The other existing covered bridge in Franklin County is the Show Hill Covered Bridge (1895).

William Howe invented the Howe Truss bridge design. In 1840 he received two patents for this design which improved on two earlier truss designs. It solved the length-to-height relationship problem allowing the span length to be increased by adding more sets to metal rods and angled wood beams. As a result, the height can remain constant no matter what the length of the span. Advancing technology and the advent of the automobile near the turn of the 20^th century resulted in steel and concrete becoming the materials of choice for highway bridges nationwide. However rural Indiana in the 1890s was heavily forested and wood was plentiful, making the construction of timber covered bridges extremely feasible during this period.

Local builders who were clearly knowledgeable of the Howe Truss bridge design built the Stockheughter bridge. According to the commissioner's notes, George Hotel and his company received the bid for the substructure and superstructure in March of 1891. Mr. Hotel had a sawmill (purchased 1879) in nearby Oldenburg where he lived. The bridge was completed in September of 1891 for $2130 plus $2 extra for cement for the abutments. William Naber, the superintendent, was allowed $91 paid at a rate of $2 per day for this service.

Bridge Description

Stockheughter Covered Bridge is located in Ray Township, Section 10, Franklin County, 1/6 miles east of Enochsburg on CR 640 South. The address is 27046 Enochsburg Road, Batesville, IN 47006. The surrounding terrain is gently rolling. It is designated as county bridge #73 and carries Enochsburg Road traffic over Salt Creek. Although commonly referred to as the Enochsburg Bridge today, this bridge is historically known as "Stockheughter Bridge" due to its location on the Henry Stockheughter farm.

The Howe Truss type bridge rests on a stone masonry foundation reinforced with concrete. The span is 101.9 feet with a height of 13 feet and a width of 13 feet. In the Howe Truss tradition, paired diagonal wood members slant in one direction while the sandwiched single member slant diagonally in the other direction. Overhead X-braces on the underside of the bridge link the bottom chords. Both top and bottom chords are composite members formed of sandwiched planks held together by iron nuts and bolts. These nuts and bolts allow the bridge to be adjusted if necessary.

The gable roof with asbestos shingles has a slight overhang and the exterior walls are covered with vertical board and batten siding. The same siding, painted red, is used on the eaves. The rectangular portals are detailed with trim boards (painted white) with the same boards running parallel at the bridge exterior corners. A postcard from approximately 1945 does not show the white trim boards. It is theorized that they were added after that date. There is an open clerestory running the length of the bridge on each side.

Since construction in 1891, numerous repairs have been made to the bridge. In 1988 the siding, trusses and abutments were repaired and the siding painted. It was again painted and a new roof was installed in 1996. In 1998 lower chord bearings were repaired, the deck was replaced, and steel stringers were painted. A new floor reinforced by steel beams was installed in February 2000 due to termite damage. The load-carrying capacity had been downgraded from 11 tons in 1996, 5 tons in 1998, and was rated for 3 tons in 2000. George Hartman, the county engineer, reported in December 2000 that the existing deck, floor beams, and other structural components are in need of replacement, as is an immediate support pier that was washed out at the edge of the stream near the east abutment.