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Documenting North America's past & present covered bridges

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White's, Ionia County

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If you would like to provide information on covered bridges that no longer exist from your state, or adopt a state to work on, we would certainly welcome your assistance. Please contact Trish Kane for more information.

Inventory Number: MI/22-34-01x
County: Ionia County
Township: Keene
Town/Village:
Bridge Name: White's
Crosses: Flat River
Truss type: Brown
Spans: 1
Length: 116'
Roadway Width:
Built: 1869
Builder: Jared N. Bresee and Joseph H. Walker
When Lost: 07 Jul 2013
Cause: Arson
Latitude: N43 00.876
Longitude: W085 17.870
See a map of the area
Topographic map of the area
Directions: 3.4 miles south of jct MI-44 on MI-91 to Smyrna, then 2.6 miles right on White's Bridge Rd.

White Bridge, Keene, MI. Built 1869, lost to arson July 7, 2013
© Lisa Plamondon

Comments:
Cost $1700. The first bridge at this location, a floating log bridge, was built in 1845. At some time between 1845 and 1856, Levi White purchased the property adjacent to the bridge. The crossing has been known as White's Bridge since that time. A second bridge was built in 1856. Keene and Otisco Townships appropriated $250 for that project. An ice jam in the spring of 1869 destroyed the second bridge. On April 22, 1869, Keene Township Commissioners of Highways let a contract to replace White's Bridge. The contract was awarded to "Brezee & Walker" for the sum of $1700. The covered bridge was built during the summer and accepted by Keene Township on October 1, 1869. The Brown truss used here was invented and patented by Josiah Brown of Buffalo, NY, in 1857. The bridge was lost to arson on July 7, 2013. The fire started in the pre-dawn hours of the morning. By the time emergency crews arrived on the scene, the bridge had already fallen into the river. Bridge builder, Jared Bresee's name has also been spelled "Brazee". His grave in Grand Rapids, Michigan, has it spelled "Bresee". 14-panel truss.

Sources:
Reported by WOOD-TV, July 7, 2013
National Society for the Preservation of Covered Bridges. World Guide to Covered Bridges, 2009, page 41

Compilation 2026 Covered Spans of Yesteryear

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