Sim Smith
Bridge
Built in 1883 by Joseph A.
Britton
Location: Located 2 miles southeast of Montezuma, or 6
miles west of Rockville.
Size: 84' long +9' +9'. 16' wide and has 14' of
clearance. It has a Double Burr Arch 1 Span truss. The foundation
is red sandstone
Repair/Restoration History: Alternate route open in
1930’s. Roof replaced in 1989.
Original Cost: $3,200
Bridge History: Also known as "Leatherwood Ford"
The Parke County Commissioners requested that Joseph J. Daniels
prepare plans and estimates for a covered bridge at Leatherwood
Ford. J.J. Daniels estimated the cost $3,801.
When bids were solicited, four iron bridge companies submitted
bids in addition to J.A. Britton and J.J. Daniels: Wrought Iron
Bridge Co. Canton Ohio - $17.95 per timber foot; Indianapolis
Bridge Co. - $17.00 per timber foot; King Bridge Co. - $16.48 per
timber foot; South Bridge Co. - $16.65 per timber foot; J.J.
Daniels - $3,500.00 complete; J.A. Britton - $1,700.00
superstructure, $1,500 stonework. The contract was awarded to J.A.
Britton for $3,200.
This was J.A. Britton’s third Parke County Bridge. The first, at
Billie Creek, was probably an open bridge. He built the Narrows
Covered Bridge, in 1882. The craftsmanship at the top of the arch
of the Narrows Bridge has been remarked upon as primitive as
compared to those of J.J. Daniels. The arch of the Sim Smith bridge
is clearly composed of incompletely cut segments. In later bridges
J.A. Britton’s craftsmanship and attention to detail exceeded that
of J.J. Daniels, possibly as compensation for these early
bridges.
This bridge has a reputation for being haunted. In one story
from 1890 many have waited on one side of the bridge for the horse
and buggy they hear approaching from the other side. It never
appears, even though they leave the buggy to look for it. In
another story two husky high school students investigated the story
at night after a school play rehearsal. At first they found nothing
more than a glow worm. Then on the other side they both saw an
Indian carrying a papoose. She was about 8 feet tall. They ran to
their car but when they roared through the bridge in the car she
was gone.
The Sim Smith Bridge was named for a nearby landowner, Simeon
Smith. He lived in the county from 1885. The Smith family has
retained the same property through 1990. The now abandoned B&O
Railroad branch ran through the Sim Smith property and near the
bridge.
The Sim Smith Bridge has one "Britton Portal" and one "Daniels
Portal". Joseph A. Britton originally built it with his trademark
openings, but the North end was modified into the "Daniels arched
portal" in a later repair.
This bridge was on the Pikes Peak route along with Billie Creek,
Howard, and Hollandsburg. When US 36 was surveyed in the 1920’s the
Sim Smith Bridge was saved by the rerouting of the highway. It is
still in use.
The Winningham Boys had a micro at this bridge a few years back
but since it is a remote area I felt a 50 caliber ammo box might
work better here. Please hide it as well or better than you found
it. There is a Sacagawea dollar in the cache for the first one to
find. Also this bridge is in a flood area so let me know if the
cache floats away so I can secure it better in the future. Update
8/16/08: the ammo can didn't work very well so the new cache is a
decon container.