Deer Creek Township near Delphi in Carroll County, Indiana — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Wilson Bridge
1898
Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, June 15, 2024
1. Wilson Bridge Marker
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Bridges & Viaducts. In addition, it is included in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1898.
Location. 40° 35.43′ N, 86° 37.307′ W. Marker is near Delphi, Indiana, in Carroll County. It is in Deer Creek Township. It is on West 300 North 0.6 miles west of North 450 West, on the left when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Delphi IN 46923, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Northern Indiana. It is also in the American Midwest and in the Corn Belt. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture and also the Northwest Territory.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Deer Creek Valley Rural Historic District
this page online
Another marker is no longer nearby. Samuel Milroy (was approx. 1.9 miles away but has been confirmed missing).
Regarding Wilson Bridge. Excerpts from the National Register nomination:
It is an instance of a type of bridge, the Pratt Through Truss, which is increasingly rare, and it was manufactured by a once-prominent regional firm, the Lafayette Bridge Company, whose work is rare and becoming more so. In 1898, when it was built, the bridge participated in three state and regional trends: the heyday of metal bridges, the twilight of river fords, and the growing role of local government in the provision and maintenance of transportation infrastructure.
In September, 1897, J.D. Wilson and severaldozen neighbors petitioned the Carroll County commissioners to build a bridge at the old Royster ford. This crossing of Deer Creek had been popular for many years Robert Royster had owned the land to the East of Deer Creek for many years prior to 1874, by which time Wilson had also established a farm on the West side of the creek. In November of 1897, the county commissioners reached a decision and began advertising for bids on a new bridge.Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, June 15, 20242. Wilson Bridge Marker
The Lafayette Bridge Company, a prolific regional firm, beat out Wabash Bridge with a $2,499 bid to assemble the superstructure. The firm designed a Pratt Through Truss for the old Royster Ford site. By the time of its construction in 1898, this sort of Pratt truss was the tried-and-true bridge type for well-traveled roads. Father and son Caleb and Thomas Pratt devised their through truss in 1844, and it became a springboard for numerous improvements in truss design.
Also see . . . Wilson Bridge (PDF). National Register nomination for the bridge, which was listed in 2001. (Prepared by Benjamin James Bruxvoort Lipscomb and Susan Rae Bruxvoort Lipscomb, Carroll County Bridge Coalition; via National Archives)
Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, June 15, 2024
3. Wilson Bridge detail
Credits. This page was last revised on July 11, 2024. It was originally submitted on July 11, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 273 times since then and 31 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on July 11, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
