Whites Bridge
Encyclopedia
Whites Bridge is a 120-foot (37 m) span Brown truss
covered bridge
, erected in 1869 in Keene Township
, Michigan
, United States
, near Smyrna
on the Flat River
. Carrying Whites Bridge Road across the Flat, it is located north of the Fallasburg Bridge
and south of Smyrna. It is among the area's best-known 19th century structures.
The bridge uses the Brown truss
system, a through truss consisting of diagonal compression beams and almost vertical tension member
s (slanting in at the top toward the center of the span). This system was patented by Josiah Brown of Buffalo, New York
in 1857. The Brown truss is similar to the Howe arrangement of "X" bracing and counter bracing, but uses lighter members and less timber. It contains no upright compression members and no iron except for bolt connectors at the timber intersections. Builders used the Brown truss successfully in at least four covered bridges in Michigan, three of which (Ada Covered Bridge
, Fallasburg Bridge
and this one) are still in existence. The Brown truss was thus briefly popular in Michigan but did not gain wide acceptance elsewhere.
The bridge currently rests on concrete and fieldstone footings at each end. As is typical for covered bridges, it is a frame structure with a gabled roof that is covered with creosote shingles. Its construction is of the through-truss type, and the trusses are completely sheathed on the outside with rough pine boards. The floor is 14 feet (4 m) wide and 117 feet (36 m) long. All of the truss members and planks, sheeting and other dimension lumber were originally hand hewn and secured with wooden pegs, although the bridge has subsequently been strengthened. The sheeting and roof boards are fastened to the rafters with hand cut nails. The abutments are made of local fieldstone.
, even before the bridges were built. The "Whites Bridge" and "Whites Crossing" names are taken from the White family, prominent pioneers of the day. The original bridge, built in 1840, was a corduroy
bridge made of logs. A second bridge, built about 1856, reportedly at a cost of $250, was destroyed by an ice jam during the spring breakup of 1869. The residents of Smyrna sought a replacement, and sought to pay for it with a deferred payment.
The residents contracted with Jared N. Bresee, builder of the Fallasburg Bridge
and Joseph H. Walker to build the bridge for a deferred payment of $1000 due in 1870, and $700 due in 1871. The builders used second-hand lumber in an effort to contain costs and finish quickly (the bridge was built in 84 days with only man and animal power.) The townspeople reportedly discovered auger holes in the floor planking and withheld $25 from the first payment. Except for occasional siding and cedar roof shingle replacement, White's Bridge retains its original form and structure.
The bridge was listed with the Michigan State Register on February 17, 1965. It was awarded a Michigan Historical Marker (site L0042) on July 2, 1965.
Although the Ada Covered Bridge
may have been built earlier, it was completely replaced due to a fire, and this bridge is arguably the oldest covered bridge still using parts of the original structure in Michigan.
Brown truss
A Brown truss is a type of bridge truss, used in covered bridges. It is noted for its economical use of materials and is named after the inventor, Josiah Brown Jr., of Buffalo, New York, who patented it July 7, 1857 as US patent 17,722.-Description:...
covered bridge
Covered bridge
A covered bridge is a bridge with enclosed sides and a roof, often accommodating only a single lane of traffic. Most covered bridges are wooden; some newer ones are concrete or metal with glass sides...
, erected in 1869 in Keene Township
Keene Township, Michigan
Keene Township is a civil township of Ionia County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,660 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of , of which, of it is land and of it is water.-Demographics:As of the census of...
, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, near Smyrna
Otisco Township, Michigan
Otisco Township is a civil township of Ionia County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 2,243. Township offices are located in the community of Smyrna.-Communities:...
on the Flat River
Flat River (Michigan)
The Flat River is a tributary of the Grand River in the western part of the U.S. state of Michigan. It rises as the outflow of the six lakes system in Belvidere Township, west of Edmore in Montcalm County. It flows mostly south and slightly west through Montcalm County, Ionia County, and Kent...
. Carrying Whites Bridge Road across the Flat, it is located north of the Fallasburg Bridge
Fallasburg Bridge
Fallasburg Bridge is a span Brown truss covered bridge, erected in 1871 in Vergennes Township, Michigan, United States, north of Lowell on the Flat River. Carrying Covered Bridge Road across the Flat, it is located in the Fallasburg Historical District south of Whites Bridge and Smyrna...
and south of Smyrna. It is among the area's best-known 19th century structures.
Design
Brown truss
A Brown truss is a type of bridge truss, used in covered bridges. It is noted for its economical use of materials and is named after the inventor, Josiah Brown Jr., of Buffalo, New York, who patented it July 7, 1857 as US patent 17,722.-Description:...
system, a through truss consisting of diagonal compression beams and almost vertical tension member
Tension member
Tension members are structural elements that are subjected to axial tensile forces. They are usually used in different types of structures. Examples of tension members are: bracing for buildings and bridges, truss members, and cables in suspended roof systems....
s (slanting in at the top toward the center of the span). This system was patented by Josiah Brown of Buffalo, New York
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
in 1857. The Brown truss is similar to the Howe arrangement of "X" bracing and counter bracing, but uses lighter members and less timber. It contains no upright compression members and no iron except for bolt connectors at the timber intersections. Builders used the Brown truss successfully in at least four covered bridges in Michigan, three of which (Ada Covered Bridge
Ada Covered Bridge
The Ada Covered Bridge is a span Brown truss covered bridge erected in 1867 in Ada, Michigan, United States. Carrying Bronson Street across the Thornapple River, it is located just south of where the Thornapple enters the Grand River, in turn just south of M-21...
, Fallasburg Bridge
Fallasburg Bridge
Fallasburg Bridge is a span Brown truss covered bridge, erected in 1871 in Vergennes Township, Michigan, United States, north of Lowell on the Flat River. Carrying Covered Bridge Road across the Flat, it is located in the Fallasburg Historical District south of Whites Bridge and Smyrna...
and this one) are still in existence. The Brown truss was thus briefly popular in Michigan but did not gain wide acceptance elsewhere.
The bridge currently rests on concrete and fieldstone footings at each end. As is typical for covered bridges, it is a frame structure with a gabled roof that is covered with creosote shingles. Its construction is of the through-truss type, and the trusses are completely sheathed on the outside with rough pine boards. The floor is 14 feet (4 m) wide and 117 feet (36 m) long. All of the truss members and planks, sheeting and other dimension lumber were originally hand hewn and secured with wooden pegs, although the bridge has subsequently been strengthened. The sheeting and roof boards are fastened to the rafters with hand cut nails. The abutments are made of local fieldstone.
History
The present Whites Bridge is the third bridge across the Flat River at or near this location south of Smyrna, which was a crossing point or fordFord (crossing)
A ford is a shallow place with good footing where a river or stream may be crossed by wading or in a vehicle. A ford is mostly a natural phenomenon, in contrast to a low water crossing, which is an artificial bridge that allows crossing a river or stream when water is low.The names of many towns...
, even before the bridges were built. The "Whites Bridge" and "Whites Crossing" names are taken from the White family, prominent pioneers of the day. The original bridge, built in 1840, was a corduroy
Corduroy road
A corduroy road or log road is a type of road made by placing sand-covered logs perpendicular to the direction of the road over a low or swampy area....
bridge made of logs. A second bridge, built about 1856, reportedly at a cost of $250, was destroyed by an ice jam during the spring breakup of 1869. The residents of Smyrna sought a replacement, and sought to pay for it with a deferred payment.
The residents contracted with Jared N. Bresee, builder of the Fallasburg Bridge
Fallasburg Bridge
Fallasburg Bridge is a span Brown truss covered bridge, erected in 1871 in Vergennes Township, Michigan, United States, north of Lowell on the Flat River. Carrying Covered Bridge Road across the Flat, it is located in the Fallasburg Historical District south of Whites Bridge and Smyrna...
and Joseph H. Walker to build the bridge for a deferred payment of $1000 due in 1870, and $700 due in 1871. The builders used second-hand lumber in an effort to contain costs and finish quickly (the bridge was built in 84 days with only man and animal power.) The townspeople reportedly discovered auger holes in the floor planking and withheld $25 from the first payment. Except for occasional siding and cedar roof shingle replacement, White's Bridge retains its original form and structure.
The bridge was listed with the Michigan State Register on February 17, 1965. It was awarded a Michigan Historical Marker (site L0042) on July 2, 1965.
Historical marker text
- This picturesque covered bridge, one of the last of its kind in Michigan, was built in 1867 by Jared N. Brazee and J. N. Walker, builders of several covered bridges in this area. The name of the bridge derives from the White family, a prominent pioneer family. The crossing of the Flat River here was known as White's Crossing before the first primitive bridge was built. In 1840, a bridge of log corduroy construction was erected. It was replaced by this covered bridge, costing $1700. It is of the through-truss type with a gable roof. The hand-hewn trusses are sheeted over with rough pine boards. Wooden pegs and handcut square iron nails are used to secure the various parts of the bridge. White's Bridge has been in constant use since 1867, proof that it was well made.
Present day use
The bridge was briefly closed in 1995 to allow for repair of the abutments. It was subsequently reopened to automobile traffic. The bridge, with a load limit of 3 tons (2.7 tonnes) in effect, was in use until it incurred major structural damage, presumedly by a motor vehicle, on approximately January 8, 2010. It has since reopened to traffic with the replacement parts easily visible.Although the Ada Covered Bridge
Ada Covered Bridge
The Ada Covered Bridge is a span Brown truss covered bridge erected in 1867 in Ada, Michigan, United States. Carrying Bronson Street across the Thornapple River, it is located just south of where the Thornapple enters the Grand River, in turn just south of M-21...
may have been built earlier, it was completely replaced due to a fire, and this bridge is arguably the oldest covered bridge still using parts of the original structure in Michigan.