Randolph Township near Aurora in Ohio County, Indiana — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
A Historic Road Less Traveled
— Ohio River Scenic Byway —
Who would think that a country road would hold so much history? Old State Highway 56 takes you past the historic Speakman-Tallentire house and to a famous bridge.
Elderly Stephen S. Speakman was in love with a young Kentucky belle who agreed to marry him if he built her a magnificent house. With the help of slave labor borrowed from his bride's Kentucky home, the elegant Greek Revival-style Speakman-Tallentire house was completed in 1845. It sits on a rise near the Laughery Creek. Although now overgrown, it once had a view of the Creek, and across the Ohio River to Kentucky. Bricks used to build it were made right on the premises. The home is now a private residence, not open to the public, and should be viewed from the roadside.
Travel past the Speakman-Tallentire House and see the three-span, 302 foot "Triple Whipple Bridge," built in 1878 that joins Ohio and Dearborn Counties. It is the only remaining bridge of its type in the country, and is named for the nineteenth century bridge designer Squire Whipple, who designed a special system of supports. The bridge's historic significance earned it a place in the National Register of Historic Places. The bridge is presently closed to vehicular traffic but has been rehabilitated for pedestrian use.
Visitors are encouraged to visit a neighboring Ohio River Scenic site just to the north of here at Riverview Cemetery.
By the Way: Indiana has more than 6,000 bridges, many of them considered historic treasures.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Bridges & Viaducts • Notable Buildings. A significant historical year for this entry is 1845.
Location. 39° 1.267′ N, 84° 53.02′ W. Marker is near Aurora, Indiana, in Ohio County. It is in Randolph Township. Marker is at the intersection of Hartford Pike and Old State Road 56, on the right when traveling north on Hartford Pike. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 10231 Old State Rd 56, Aurora IN 47001, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Lochry's Defeat (approx. ¼ mile away); Lochry Massacre Memorial (approx. 0.4 miles away); a different marker also named Lochry Massacre Memorial (approx. 0.4 miles away); Site of Lochry's Defeat (approx. 0.4 miles away); A Lavish Landscape (approx. 0.6 miles away); River View Cemetery (approx. 0.6 miles away); Aurora Ferry Boat Captains (approx. 1.7 miles away); Veterans Memorial (approx. 2.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Aurora.
More about this marker. Marker is part of the Ohio River Scenic Byway series.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on July 21, 2013, by Duane Hall of Abilene, Texas. This page has been viewed 941 times since then and 12 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on July 21, 2013, by Duane Hall of Abilene, Texas. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.