Wilkins Mill Covered Bridge

The Wilkins Mill Covered Bridge is north of Rockville, Indiana. The single span Burr Arch Truss covered bridge structure was built by William Hendricks in 1906. The bridge is 120 feet (37 m) long, 16 feet (4.9 m) wide, and 13 feet (4.0 m) high.[4][5]

Wilkins Mill Covered Bridge
Wilkins Mill Covered Bridge
Coordinates39°53′54.09″N 87°13′59.37″W
CarriesCox Ford Road
CrossesSugar Mill Creek
LocaleParke, Indiana, United States
Official nameWilkins Mill Covered Bridge
Named forWilkins Mill
Maintained byParke County
NBI Number6100172[1]
Characteristics
DesignNational Register of Historic Places
Total length120 ft (37 m)102ft +9ft overhangs on each end
Width16 ft (4.9 m)[2]
Height13 ft (4.0 m)
History
Constructed byHendricks, William
Built1906
Rebuilt1991 $6,000
MPSParke County Covered Bridges TR
NRHP reference No.78000415 [3]
Added to NRHPDec 22, 1978
Location

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

History

Solomon Jessup and Zimri Hunt built a mill in 1835 upstream from the bridge site. George Wilkins later opened a store there in 1853 and a carding mill, operated by Solomon Jessup and William Hunt was also built. In 1855 Wilkins bought the mill but later tore it down and built a new one. This is the source of the name Wilkins Mill, however, in 1877 this mill burned down and another mill was built which stood until 1947.[4]

The 1874 Atlas of Parke County shows that the creek was named Mill Creek,[6] but today it is labeled as Sugar Mill Creek. Sugar Mill Creek and Green Creek converge below the bridge and it would seem that after one flood the Sugar Mill Creek changed its course and left the bridge standing over a dry creek bed for a period of time. Looking at satellite picture now show that it appears the bridge is once again crossing water.

This was to be the second of three covered bridges built by William Hendricks.

See also

References
  1. http://nationalbridges.com/
  2. "Wilkins Mill Covered Bridge (#35)". Parke County Convention & Visitors Commission. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
  3. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. January 23, 2007.
  4. "Wilkins Mill Covered Bridge". Parke County Incorporated / Parke County Convention and Visitors Commission. Retrieved 2012-10-18.
  5. "Indiana State Historic Architectural and Archaeological Research Database (SHAARD)" (Searchable database). Department of Natural Resources, Division of Historic Preservation and Archaeology. Retrieved 2016-06-01. Note: This includes Charles Felkner (December 1977). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Form: Parke County Covered Bridge Historic District" (PDF). Retrieved 2016-06-01., Site map, and Accompanying photographs.
  6. http://www.indianagenweb.com/inparke/Maps/1874AtlasPage031SugarCreekTownshipMap.jpg
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