New to little Indiana? Subscribe for free to my RSS feed. Thanks for stopping by!
Indiana Covered Bridges: Carroll County Lancaster Covered Bridge
Hidden away down winding roads, up and down tree-shaded hills, lies an Indiana covered bridge. This one is near Owasco, Indiana.
Lancaster Covered Bridge or Beard Covered Bridge
Known as the Lancaster Covered Bridge and, sometimes also referred to as the Beard Covered Bridge, this is an absolutely fantastic chunk of Indiana otherwise known as Carroll County! Greener than green rolling hills, forest, and field make it a joy to drive through.
I will say, however, that trying to find the bridge in all of this beautiful back-country brought to mind every horror film I’ve ever seen.
There’s two signs that point the way to the bridge. Truth be told, you will wonder if you are on the right track more than once! This bridge is way out there on curving country roads. But, for all the wandering around–it’s absolutely worth it!
The Lancaster Covered Bridge was built in 1872 and is still in use today. It received a bit of rebuilding here and there to keep it safe and useable in 1972, 1981, and 2006. According to the plaque, this Indiana covered bridge spans across Wildcat Creek for 128 feet.
But even refurbishing isn’t enough to keep these old bridges safe. “The bridge at Lancaster was saved during the flood of 2008 by dumping a load of gravel on the south end to keep it from washing down stream, ” shared Mark A. Smith (on my Facebook Page), Board Member of Carroll County Wabash-Erie Canal and President of Delphi Main Street Association.
What’s especially unique about this Indiana covered bridge is the cast iron abutments. There’s only a few of these old bridges that have that feature. According to Mr. Smith, Adams Mill Covered Bridge also has a cast iron approach (that had a guarantee of five years).
Restoration
Indiana Covered Bridges: Carroll County Lancaster Covered Bridge
Although it has long since been updated, the 2006 restoration project was blogged about by Dan Reitmeyer, from the family-run company CLR Incorporated, who undertook the project.
It’s a neat look at how this old Indiana covered bridge was restored–and some of the surprises along the way!
Just make sure to start your reading from the beginning. Look for the Archives section on the left-hand side of the page (scroll down). Then click on November 2005 to dig in!
Winding Roads
The Lancaster Bridge should make your list of where to go to see a unique piece of Indiana history. It looks great and couldn’t be in a more scenic part of the state. From there, you can easily make your way to Delphi, Rossville, or one of the other interesting (and fun!) small towns in the area.
Lancaster Covered Bridge in Owasco, Indiana (map is for town, follow signs for covered bridge)
View Larger Map
little Indiana: Where to Stay, Play, and Eat in Small Towns in Indiana. Discovering Indiana’s best small towns! Now get little Indiana on your Kindle.
New! Offering affordable online advertising for your small Indiana business! little Indiana Businesses is the online presence that you’ve been looking for.
