Potter's Bridge was built in 1871 by Josiah Durfee of Noblesville for a mere $13,000. It connects the land called Potter's Ford, named for William A. Potter (1838-1883), who owned and farmed the surrounding land. Covered wooden bridges were built with roofs because exposure to moisture made the wood susceptible to rotting, and the roof protected the main support structure. Potter's Bridge is an example of a Howe Truss, a design patented by William Howe in 1840 that uses iron vertical rods instead of wood to create a stronger, lighter bridge whose iron tension rods can be tightened or loosened to keep the bridge in perfect alignment. Eventually, iron bridges replaced covered wooden bridges.