Washington Street Bridge

Information and Findings From DHPA Historic Bridge Survey

Statement of Significance

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, stone-masons erected full-centered or semi-circular arches in which the line of pressure passes through the center of each stone in the arch ring until carried vertically into the substructure. Only a few of the state's most stone arches span streams in northern counties. Even before 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 state. With a bid for masonry at $3.75 per cubic yard, J. C. O'Connor brought in the lowest and best bid to the Carroll county commissioners in June 1901. O'Connor received payment of $800 on a construction estimate in early December. At the beginning of the next January, he received his final payment for 970 cubic yards of masonry or $3,637.50. In early February, Edward Morrisone won a contract for filling the arch at $.33 per cubic yard.

Architectural Description

The limestone blocks of the arch ring of this span are roughly cut and mortared. The spandrels, wing-walls, and rails are all of field stone. The structure carries an asphalt roadway and concrete sidewalk to the east between low stone parapet rails. Few of the states arches used field stone in the structure and few have decks as wide.

Other Information

References Charles J. Ritzler, Bridge Inspection Report: Carroll County (Delphi, 1974-75). Associated Engineering Consultants, Inc., Bridge Reinspection Study and Report: Carroll County (Nashville, 1987). Rumschlag Technical Services, Carroll County Bridge Inventory & Appraisal Report (Brownsburg, 2006). "1901" inscribed on keystone. Indiana State Highway Commission, Bridge Survey, 641 (1933): 20-21; 1243 (1943): 47. Indiana Historic Sites & Structures Inventory, Carroll County: Interim Report (Indianapolis, 1980), 50-51. Carroll County, "Commissioners Record," 20: 454-458, 541, 553, 561.

Bridge Considered Historic By Survey: Yes