Cumberland Covered Bridge

The Cumberland Covered Bridge was built in 1877. During the Great Flood of 1913, floodwaters on the Mississinewa River rose high enough on March 26th, 1913, to push the bridge from its abutments as local citizens watched helplessly. Listing at a 70 degree angle with its north end leading, it drifted downstream past the cemetery until it struck a large sycamore tree on the embankment, turned 180 degrees, and came to rest on the south bank until the waters receded. Inspection showed that although it had lost some of its siding and roof, its 181 foot long Howe truss was still structurally sound. After it was judged salvageable, contractor George Leamon was hired to move it back upstream to its original location. The bridge was raised from the water, moved on wooden rollers to the road alongside the river, and then taken back down the road by horses and or man operated capstans. A woman allowed the crew to cut a tree in her yard so the 181 foot bridge could be turned around. The old abutments were modified to raise the bridge 16 inches higher and lock it into place to prevent another slide off. A temporary crib was built in the river at the crossing site to support it as it was pulled by cable and capstan to its original position, then lowered onto the raised abutments and re-sided and re-roofed. The Cumberland Covered Bridge survived later floods in large part because it was raised and anchored when it was rebuilt in 1913.

Matthews, Indiana · United States