19 Feb 2015 A canvas of iron and wood
Story and photos
by Linda Henderson
I find art in iron and wood timbers that frame old bridges. Old historical bridges have a grace and style that rivals most sculpture. These old and mysterious arched bridges are a delight for the eye as well as for the sense of hearing. Many an old bridge will make clicking and clacking sounds as you traverse their span.
If you travel the 501, you will occasionally come upon an old iron bridge. A few of these historical bridges have been restored and are still in use in the 501. A few are in a sad state of decay and are no longer safe for travel. If you are looking for a way to bring Arkansas history to life, take a tour of some of these 501 bridges.
History
In early Arkansas history, bridges were very rare. During the early part of 19th century, rivers were crossed by ford or ferry — both were unreliable and dangerous. Later in the 19th century, wood and stone spans were built, but again both were subject to floods and fire.
Toward the turn of the 20th century, a few Arkansas counties started building bridges of iron and steel trusses. In the 1870s, with the rise of specialized bridge building firms, prefabricated iron bridges became more affordable.
Many of these bridges were constructed off-site in sections and then were shipped to the building site by railroad or river barge. Local workmen then erected the bridge sections on site. These bridges made travel much safer and opened very remote areas up for settlement and farming. According to Arkansas State Highway history, in 1871 the Conway County Court awarded a contract for the county’s first iron bridge at Springfield. The successful completion of this bridge led to the erection of other iron bridges. During the early 20th century bridges were financed by county taxes. In 1913, the Arkansas State Highway Department was established, and the development of Arkansas’ county road system was under way.
Springfield-Des Arc
The oldest standing historic bridge in the state is the Springfield-Des Arc Bridge. The bridge spans the Cadron Creek on the Faulkner-Conway county line. The Springfield-Des Arc Bridge was built in 1874 and was in use until 1987.
Visually this bridge is one of my favorites. Its metal and timbers have stood strong for so many years, but now the iron is corroding and the wooden framework is splintering. The old bridge is losing its fight with weeds, branches, vines and saplings. The deck is now missing, spray paint covers the stone foundation and the bowstring trusses are no longer load-bearing safe. Take care if you visit this old bridge. It can be viewed from the concrete replacement bridge, or you can follow the well-worn path down to the Cadron. It is located on the Springfield Road, north of Wooster.
Wallace Bridge
Constructed in 1908, the Wallace Bridge is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. It is an example of a Camelback through truss bridge and is found in Perry County.
In January 2009, the Wallace Bridge partially collapsed when an overloaded truck drove over the bridge, causing the deck to fail. The bridge was repaired and restored. The bridge was returned to service in May 2010. The bridge is located on Wallace Bridge Road off Highway 60, west of Perryville.
Shirley Bridge
Another one of my favorite 501 old bridges is the Missouri and North Arkansas Railroad Bridge at Shirley. It is an old railroad bridge that has been repurposed and adapted as a roadway bridge. The truss bridge spans the Middle Fork of the Little Red River.
The Shirley Bridge was built in 1908 as a railroad bridge and then rehabilitated in 1978. It is just outside Shirley on County Road 125. Other historical bridges in the 501 include Judsonia Bridge on County Road 66, Tully Bridge on County Road 5 in Saline County, Point Removed Creek 113 Bridge in Conway County and the Broadway Bridge, which spans the Arkansas River between Little Rock and North Little Rock.
Photo suggestions
Photo tips for photographing old iron bridges: Be safe; keep an eye out for vehicles traveling across old bridges; many historical bridges in the 501 are still working pieces of history. Be careful not to trespass.
When photographing old architecture such as bridges, a straightforward and simple composition is usually more pleasing to the eye. Side lighting provides a picture with interesting shadows and textures. Include the river landscape in your picture if possible. You may want to include some detail items such as bridge connections, vertical timbers, the traffic deck, bridge signs, manufacturer’s insignia and any other decorative features.
Never shoot into the sun, and everything photographs better under cloudy skies. Early morning or late afternoon is the best time to photograph old bridges. Explore and scout out locations the rest of the day.
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