Zacke Cox Bridge
Built in 1908 by Joseph A.
Britton
Location: The bridge is located at Bradfield Station, 3
miles north of Coxville and crosses the Rock Run (was called Iron
Run). This is a very rural area of Parke County. At the time of
this listing I don't believe Zacke Cox Bridge is even on one of the
covered bridge routs so you will be seeing something most tourist
don't get the opertunity to.
Size: The length of this bridge is 54' +9' +9'. The width
is 15' and the clearance is 14'. It has a Burr Arch 1 span truss.
The foundation is concrete.
Repair/Restoration History: The roof and deck were
replaced in 1989. Deck replaced in 1991 for $6,000. Restored in
2002.
Bridge History: The Zacke Cox Bridge was built the same
year and by the same contract as the Harry Evans Bridge and the
same year as the Weisner. Although built by J.A. Britton, these
three bridges do not have the traditional Britton Portal.
Semi-arched, they more resemble the Hendricks Portal, like Williams
Mill, Rush Creek, and Mill Creek.
Zachariah M. Cox was born in 1857 in Coloma. His father was E.T.
Cox. The Cox family was prominent with various members owning
nearly a thousand acres in Parke County near the Zacke Cox
Bridge.
There is a clay strip mine next to the bridge to the northwest.
Coal and slate outcroppings can be seen south of the bridge.
There was another road between the Harry Evans and Zacke Cox
Bridges. It was never bridged and the ford and approaches are now
abandoned. An ancient legendary Indian grave lies between the
bridges, marked by a snake-like fossil. However, the hewn rock
steps and the entrance are now covered by the collapsed cliff
side.
There have been many fossils uncovered by Rock Run, huge snakes
are ancient tree fossils. Huge alligator-like fossils were reported
north of the Zacke Cox Bridge. Fossil studies in Parke County have
revealed familiar species and at least one previously unknown. In
1956, Dr. Rainer Zangerl discovered a 12 foot long shark fossil
north of this site, between the Jackson, and West Union bridges. It
was the first fossil discovered of the Orodus Greggi sharks. Dr.
Zangerl writes that there was a shallow sea covering Parke County
during the coal age, 300 million years ago, that was populated by
various sharks and bony fishes.