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Documenting North America's past & present covered bridges

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Springdale, Leavenworth County

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Inventory Number: KS/16-52-01x
County: Leavenworth County
Township:
Town/Village: east of Springdale
Bridge Name: Springdale
Crosses: Big Stranger Creek
Truss type: Howe
Spans: 1
Length: 130'
Roadway Width:
Built: 1859
Builder: John O'Brian, Supt.
When Lost: 21 Sep 1958
Cause: Burned
Latitude: N39 16.629
Longitude: W095 06.061
See a map of the area
Topographic map of the area
Directions: KS92 (Springdale Road) about 12 miles west of Leavenworth.

Springdale Bridge, east of Springdale, Leavenworth County, KS Built 1859 Burned Sept 1958
Elna Johnson Collection

Springdale Bridge, east of Springdale, Leavenworth County, KS Built 1859 Burned Sept 1958
Richard Sanders Allen Collection, NSPCB Archives

Springdale Bridge, east of Springdale, Leavenworth County, KS Built 1859 Burned 21 Sep 1958
Fred Wunsch Photo, 1954

Springdale Bridge, east of Springdale, Leavenworth County, KS Built 1859 Burned 21 Sep 1958
Todd Clark Collection

Comments:
In 1858, General Albert Sydney Johnston, commander at Fort Leavenworth, had four covered bridges constructed to replace fords across Stranger Creek that hindered wagons traveling to and from the camp. General Johnston appointed John O'Brien as superintendent for the project. The bridges, constructed at Easton, Farmington, Jarbalo and Springdale, cost about $1,500 each. The bridges at Easton, Farmington and Jarbalo were all removed in the 1930's leaving only the one at Springdale. One source says this was on the Lecompton Road, a crossing about 1 3/4 miles upstream. The 1954 Leavenworth County Highway Map shows that is was on an earlier alignment of the main road southeast of the current crossing. The Springdale Bridge was bypassed in 1932. After being abandoned for a few years, the State Highway Commission starting a restoration project in 1946. The bridge received a new roof and siding. On September 21, 1958, the bridge was struck by lightning and burned.

Sources:
Allen, Richard Sanders. Covered Bridges of the Middle West, 1970, pages 108-109
National Society For the Preservation of Covered Bridges. Covered Bridge Topics, Volume XV, No. 2, July 1957, page 4
Connecticut River Valley Covered Bridge Society. Bulletin, Volume XI, No. 1, Summer 1964, page 8

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