DeArmond Ford Bridge

Information and Findings From DHPA Historic Bridge Survey

Statement of Significance

This bridge pushes the conventions used with the typical stone arches built in the state's south-central counties. Although they are close to being semicircular, the rings are actually, if cautiously, segmental.

Architectural Description

Local craftsmen built most of Indiana's stone arches from regional materials just before or in the first fifteen years of the twentieth century. Following a few simple rules of thumb that had evolved since Roman days, stonemasons erected full-centered or semicircular arches in which the line of pressure passes through the center of each stone in the arch ring until carried vertically into the substructure. Most of the state's stone arches span streams in south-central counties. With more than two dozen extant, Decatur County built the largest number. By World War I, the growing popularity of concrete, which engineers could readily adjust to the special needs of each specific bridge site, quietly ended most stone arch construction in the region.

This limestone, three-span structure is 95' long and carries a 15'9" asphalt roadway between stone walls. The arch rings are close to being semicircular, and their stones are roughly-cut and mortared. Springing from near the water level, the arches rise about 11'6" over a span of 26', while the center one rises 12'6" and spans 27'. The bridge has stone footings, abutments, and wingwalls.

Other Information

The Decatur county commissioners ordered J. W. Craig in May 1902 to prepare estimates for a stone-arch bridge across Sand Creek at DeArmond Ford near Union Church in Sandcreek township. The county council appropriated $1,500 for construction in September. Letting a contract for a three-span stone arch did not occur until April 1903, at which time Hodson was the lowest and best bidder at $1,431, sufficiently under the estimate and appropriation to be successful. Hodson received partial payments in August and September that added up to almost the contracted figure.

Bridge Considered Historic By Survey: Yes