Kokomo in Howard County, Indiana — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Rotary Bridge
History
Beaty Construction, Boggstown, IN, placed this bridge over Wildcat Creek on July 15, 2008, during Kokomo Mayor Greg Goodnight's administration. John Martino, Kokomo Parks and Recreation superintendent, and Larry Ives, director of the Kokomo/Howard County Government Coordinating Council, provided valuable assistance in the expansion of this urban trail known as the Walk of Excellence.
According to local historians, Thomas Faulkner, an early Kokomo Settler, donated land on the north east side of this bridge as Kokomo's first cemetery. The first graves were of two young children who died in the early 1840's. The site was designated Pioneer Cemetery, since a majority of Kokomo's first residents were buried there from 1845 to 1868.
The city opened another cemetery - Crown Point Cemetery - in 1968 and directed residents to move their loved ones there, because Wildcat Creek, which was east of its present location, was washing away graves on the west side of the cemetery in seasons of high water. The remains of Chief Kokomo, the city's namesake are buried near a monument in the north east corner of the cemetery.
Pittsburgh Plate Glass Co. sold the land directly east of the bridge to Kokomo-Center Schools in 1942, and Kokomo High School played its varsity baseball games and tennis matches and ran cross-country races, and its football team practiced here until the high school was moved to its Berkley Road location in the 1980's. Kokomo-Center donated the land for the Walk of Excellence to the City of Kokomo in 2005.
Erected 2008.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Bridges & Viaducts • Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Charity & Public Work • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Rotary International series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1919.
Location. 40° 28.992′ N, 86° 7.583′ W. Marker is in Kokomo, Indiana, in Howard County. Marker is on South Apperson Way, on the right when traveling north. This bridge is part of the Walk of Excellence Trail. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 400 South Apperson Way, Kokomo IN 46901, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Kokomo High School (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Burial Place of Chief Kokomo (about 600 feet away); Apperson Brothers (about 800 feet away); Memorial Gymnasium (approx. 0.2 miles away); Manetoowa (approx. ¼ mile away); Apperson Jack Rabbit (approx. ¼ mile away); Howard County's Automotive Heritage (approx. ¼ mile away); Crown Point Cemetery (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Kokomo.
Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker.
Credits. This page was last revised on August 16, 2023. It was originally submitted on August 13, 2023, by Trevor L Whited of Kokomo, Indiana. This page has been viewed 63 times since then and 18 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on August 13, 2023, by Trevor L Whited of Kokomo, Indiana. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.