CR-250 South Bridge

Information and Findings From DHPA Historic Bridge Survey

Statement of Significance

Although all three arches are segmental, the central one comes close to being a semicircular one. The bridge's design, therefore, moved cautiously away from the standard. Very few of Decatur County's segmental arches are multispan.

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. Most stonemasons preferred 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. In some cases, though, masons erected segmental arches in which the intrados is less than half a circle. To function successfully, segmental arches require the substructure to accommodate some horizontal as well as some vertical pressure.

Most of the state's stone arches span streams in south-central counties. Decatur County built and retains the largest number of which less than a third are segmental. 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 stone arch construction in the region.

This limestone, three-span structure is 70' long and carries a 15'6" asphalt roadway between stone walls. The arch rings are segmental, and their stones are roughly-cut and mortared. Springing from near the water level, the outer arches rise about 7' over a span of 18' and the central one rises nearly 9' for the 19' span. The bridge has stone footings, abutments, and wingwalls.

Other Information

In March 1872, the Decatur board appropriated $500 as a contribution to the Sand Creek Turnpike Company to aid in "constructing a bridge across Sand Creek on their road." The appropriation could have applied to #114, #118, or #190.

Bridge Considered Historic By Survey: Yes