Melcher Bridge
Built in 1896 by Joseph J.
Daniels
Location: Located 1 1/2 miles east of Montezuma near
Klondyke.
Size: The length of this bridge is 83' +7' +7'. The width
is 16' and has 12’ 6" of clearance. It has a Burr Arch 1 span
truss and the foundation is hewn limestone & shale and poured
concrete.
Bridge History: Also known as "Klondyke Bridge," "Marion
Bridge," and "Leatherwood Bridge."
The name Marion Bridge came from the Marion Brick Plant. The
bridge may have been built to provide road access from Montezuma,
which is located 2 miles west. The brick plant closed in the early
1920’s.
It was called Leatherwood Bridge but this is confusing with
Leatherwood Station, and Leatherwood Ford.
Klondyke was the name of the community near the bridge. It was
named after the Klondyke Gold Rush, but here, it was a clay rush to
the Marion Brick Plant.
Melcher was the name of the railroad station. Two lines of the
B&O Railroad crossed west of the bridge.
Though built by Joseph J. Daniels, this bridge does not now have
the trademark Daniels Arch. The portal has been changed to look
more like those built by William Hendricks and Joseph A. Britton on
their shorter bridges.
The abutments were originally made of hewn limestone and shale
that appear similar to nearby stones in the creek. The shale has
crumbled and concrete was poured around the original stone. The
roof is of wood shingles.
The cache is a 2qt. Lock & Lock contaimer. 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.