Crooks Covered Bridge

39°43′26.75″N 87°11′22.5″W / 39.7240972°N 87.189583°W / 39.7240972; -87.189583CarriesCrooks Bridge Road (Main road bypasses covered bridge, bridge open to traffic)CrossesLittle Raccoon CreekLocaleAdams Township, Parke County, IndianaOfficial nameCrooks Covered BridgeOther name(s)Walker Adams Bridge, Darroch's Lost BridgeOwnerParke CountyMaintained byParke CountyWGCB #14-61-17 ^[1]CharacteristicsDesignBurr arch truss bridge^[2]MaterialHewn stone (foundations)Trough constructionWoodTotal length154 ft (46.9 m) (includes 11 ft (3.4 m) overhangs on each end)Width14 ft (4.3 m)Longest span132 ft (40.2 m)No. of spans1Load limit4 short tons (3.6 t; 8,000 lb)Clearance above13 ft (4.0 m)HistoryConstruction cost$1,200 or $5,900Rebuilt1867 or 1872 Built1856 (1856) or 1860 (1860)Built byHenry WolfWebsiteCrooks BridgePart ofParke County Covered Bridges TR (ID64000193)NRHP reference No.78000391 ^[3]Added to NRHPDecember 22, 1978 Location

The Crooks Covered Bridge is a single span Burr Arch Truss structure that crosses Little Raccoon Creek built in 1855-1856 by Henry Wolf just southeast of Rockville, Indiana.^[4]

The exact history of this bridge has become hazy with the passing of time. A couple of different sources give varying years as to when certain things may have happened; what is consistent is that the bridge was moved from its original location sometime after 1863 maybe due to the road being abandoned. Some claim that the bridge actually washed downstream to its new location where new abutments were put under it and a road built to it. Still others claim that because the creek changed its course the bridge had to be dismantled and moved. Yet another claim is that General Arthur Patterson, one of the founders of Rockville, had the bridge rebuilt by J.J. Daniels in 1867 after a viewing committee, which included Daniels, recommended it be rebuilt. Daniels also recommended moving the bridge to the Darroch's Site because it was thought to be safe from flooding. This proved false though when the bridge had to be repaired in 1875 after being damaged by flooding.^[1][5]

It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.^[3]

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• List of Registered Historic Places in Indiana
• Parke County Covered Bridges
• Parke County Covered Bridge Festival

Media related to Crooks Covered Bridge at Wikimedia Commons

• Parke County Covered Bridge Festival Archived 2020-09-30 at the Wayback Machine
• Official website