Eugene Covered Bridge, Eugene Indiana

Date added: December 30, 2023 Categories: Indiana Covered Bridges Burr Arch

Eugene Covered Bridge is one of 57 remaining Burr Arch truss timber spans left in Indiana. At 180' in length, only one other Burr Arch bridge in the state is longer. It is one of four remaining covered bridges left in Vermillion County, all built by master carpenter J.J. Daniels. From 1873 until 1974, the bridge served a main road in agricultural northern Vermillion County.

The Eugene Covered Bridge was built in 1873 to replace an unknown type of bridge at that location. The site was an important crossing, as three county roads merge nearby, then cross the Big Vermillion River. The bridge connected the largest town in Eugene Township, Eugene, to agricultural areas to the north. Later, the same crossing served as access to Cayuga, an adjoining town south of Eugene. Cayuga developed later than Eugene and, enjoying rail access, became a commercial center in its own right.

The Eugene Bridge was commissioned to be built on the foundations of the previous structure. At that time in Indiana, wooden bridges were considered appropriate to span 100'-plus distances, as lumber was still plentiful, the technology was current, and skilled builders were available.

J.J. Daniels, the successful bidder on this bridge, was one of the best-known builders in Indiana. He resided in Rockville, in adjacent Parke County. Wayne Weber, architect and author of Covered Bridges in Indiana, suggests that Daniels was sufficiently free in contract specifications to build covered bridges expressing his personal architectural style. Daniels preferred the conservative Burr Arch truss, which introduces redundancy by having two independent systems-the kingpost truss and the added strength of the arch. Daniels' rivals, the Kennedy family and J.A. Britton, also used the Burr Arch, but Daniels experimented with the design by adding iron reinforcing. The extensive iron fittings of the Eugene Bridge shows Daniels ability to adapt the Burr Arch truss.

Weber notes that Theodore Burr of Connecticut was issued patents for bridge trusses in 1806 and 1817. Burr was a noted bridge builder in the East even before the patents. The Burr truss became more popular in Pennsylvania and Indiana than in any other state, and more of that bridge type remain in Indiana than any other kind. All but a few of the spans Daniels built used the Burr Arch truss.

At the heart of the Burr Arch truss is the kingpost that sits at the center of the bridge in each side truss. The use of diagonals forming triangles transfers stresses from one member to the next, and out to the abutments. Upper chords work in compression, while lower chords receive tension. Verticals are in tension and diagonals are in compression. The arch rings add balance and provide support in compression.

The bids for repairing or replacing the bridge at Eugene "on abutments now standing" were:

J.J. Daniels-new bridge- $4300
J.J. Daniels-repair old bridge- 3800
J.B. Tussellman-new bridge 5300
J.B. Tussellman-repair old bridge-3390
Smith Bridge Co.-new bridge- 4608

Daniels' method of construction was to install the stone abutments, with appropriate sloped surfaces or pockets to bear up at an angle against the arches, and then to build a temporary platform on wood poles into the river bed between abutments. The truss structure of the bridge was erected upon this platform with block and tackle, and then pinned or bolted in place. This was installed with a slight arch. Daniels would then remove the platform and allow the truss to settle to a flat form and then install the Burr style arches to give added strength. It has been stated that four skilled carpenters, aided by one or two helpers, could erect such a bridge in three months after abutments were complete.

Per the specifications by Daniels, "The upper chord will be a Single Stick, 9 X 12 inches and will receive the Posts at the proper places in Mortices 4 X 12 inches and 6 inches deep. Said Cord must also be boxed three inches deep for each Post. The upper Chords will join each other square and be held in place by a two-inch dowel 8 inches long of the same wood as themselves. All chords above and below must be four panels long except those at the end which vary to suit the others."

"The posts must be 9 X 12 inches and nineteen feet long-the upper will connect with the top Chord by means of tennon three inches thick and six inches long held in place by two dowel pins 1 1/2 inches wood below the (sic) will be notched into the chords by a gain on each side 1 1/2 inches deep, and be held in place by the lateral rods. They will be cut to receive the main braces as shown on the drawing. The main braces will be 9 X 9 inches and will be held in place in the steps of the posts by means of a spike of 1/2 by 7 inches. The floor beams and joice (sic) of the old Bridge will answer for the new Bridge." Lastly, "...(the roof) shall be covered with the best quality of pine shingles laid not over 5 inches to the weather, and the roof shall have a projection of two feet."

The Eugene Covered Bridge was bypassed in 1974 by a parallel concrete bridge. It remains open to pedestrian traffic and is admired locally for its scenic and historic significance. A nearby commercial establishment is called the "Covered Bridge Restaurant".

Bridge Description

The Eugene Covered Bridge was built in 1873, replacing an existing bridge over the Big Vermillion River for County Road 00 at the north edge of the small town of Eugene. It is one of four remaining covered bridges in Vermillion County. It is County Bridge No. 75, and it remained in service 101 years, until a parallel concrete span was installed in 1974.

As with all four existing covered bridges in Vermillion County, Eugene Bridge is a Burr Arch timber structure built by Joseph J. Daniels. It is 180 feet long plus 15 feet overhang at each end to protect the wood floor from rain, for "length of roof and siding of two hundred ten feet". It was specified: "The width of roadway in clear of posts of the bridge must be 16 feet and the height of Truss frames must be Eighteen feet." Actually, there is 16' between the guard rails at the height of a wagon axle, but there is only 14'3" between the arches at floor level.

The vertical posts and the diagonals between them are spaced evenly along the truss length, making 16 panels each 11' 3 1/2" wide. The Burr Arch ring segments are 6" X 16", each portion is two panels (20') long, "wrought to a true segment of a circle." One arch was installed on the face side of the truss, and one on the back side, and then the segments were fastened through the vertical posts with 1" diameter iron bolts. Half of the arch segments were spliced at each post, and the inner splices were alternated from the outer splices. The siding was of 1" xX 12" pine. Wood shingles were used for roofing in 1873, but the present roof is sheet metal. Daniels specified that "All timber in the bridge except the flooring will be of Southern Pine or Yellow Pine from the north. The flooring must be of sound white oak." The lower chord members are 9" X 12", four panels (40') long. The poets are 9" X 12", 19' long. The main diagonal braces are 6" X 6".

The bottom chords, as the main tension members, were spliced in a most careful manner. They were notched as to fit together in contact, and then a heavy steel strap was bolted across the splice.

The arch rings are bolted to the 9" dimension of the vertical posts, and are thus 9" apart along most of the bridge's length. As the arches near the ends of the bridge, they splay out and are 30" apart where they bear against the stone abutments.

The horizontal braces at the top and bottom of the trusses sit on iron shoes in notches in the vertical posts. They are held in place by horizontal 1" diameter iron tie rods spanning the bridge's width. The end pieces of the arch rings are tapered up to 8" x 16" where they rest upon the stonework on iron shoes, to prevent moisture from deteriorating the wood.

The siding is of vertical board and batten type. On the Eugene Bridge, there is a horizontal open window on the east side only, with a wooden awning. The walls are open on top, under the eaves, by 1 1/2', to provide light (according to Daniels), and to lessen the wind loading (some believe). The gable ends are flat and undecorated, with only chamfered corners. They were to be "painted white and lettered as the Board of Commissioners may order."

In building the Eugene Covered Bridge, Daniels used the existing abutments. He specified that the bridge was to be "anchored to its abutments near the Chord by a stay rod at each point of 1 1/2 inch iron attached to an anchor iron of two-inch square and three feet long built into the wall not less than seven feet below the bridge seat" to diminish the possibility of the bridge being swept away by high water. As the bridge was to be built upon existing foundations, it is not clear how this feature was installed by Daniels.

Since construction in 1873, the Eugene Bridge has needed no major repairs nor modifications. The oak decking has been renewed occasionally. The bridge is in good shape generally and speaks well of Daniels' work. The siding needs attention in several locations. Graffiti exists inside, but there has been no significant vandalism. In the 1930s a round concrete structure was Placed around the southeast corner abutment (only) to minimize scouring by the river at high water. The Burr Arch truss, siding, and other historic features of the Eugene Covered Bridge remain basically unaltered.