| Whites Bridge | |
|---|---|
South Approach |
|
| Carries | Whites Bridge Road |
| Crosses | Flat River |
| Locale | Smyrna, Michigan |
| Maintained by | Ionia County Road Commission |
| Design | Brown truss Covered bridge |
| Total length | 120 ft |
| Width | 1 lane, 14 ft |
| Longest span | 116.5 ft |
| Opened | 1869 or 1867[1] |
| Toll | No |
| Closed | No |
| Designated: | February 17, 1965 |
Whites Bridge (alternatively White's 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.[2]
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The bridge uses the Brown truss system, a through truss consisting of diagonal compression beams and almost vertical tension members (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[3] 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.[2] 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,[4] 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.[5]
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 ford, even before the bridges were built.[6] 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.[2]
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.[2] Except for occasional siding and cedar roof shingle replacement, White's Bridge retains its original form and structure.[5]
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.[7]
The bridge was briefly closed in 1995 to allow for repair of the abutments. It was subsequently reopened to automobile traffic.[5] 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.[9] It has since reopened to traffic with the replacement parts easily visible.
Although the Ada Covered Bridge may have been built earlier, it was completely replaced due to a fire, and this bridge is arguably[5] the oldest covered bridge still using parts of the original structure in Michigan.