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Documenting North America's past & present covered bridges

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Red, Henry County

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Inventory Number: IA/15-44-06x
County: Henry County
Township: Salem
Town/Village: near Salem
Bridge Name: Red
Crosses: Cedar Creek
Truss type: Multiple King
Spans: 1
Length:
Roadway Width:
Built: 1875
Builder:
When Lost: 03 Jul 1931
Cause:
Latitude: N40 50.571
Longitude: W091 38.306
See a map of the area
Topographic map of the area
Directions: South of Salem on the old road between Fort Madison and the Indian Agency east of Ottumwa.

Red Bridge, Salem, Henry County, IA Built 1875 Lost 1930s or 1940s
Todd Clark Collection

Comments:
This bridge was swept off its foundation by the flood of 1905. It was restored and lasted until being washed away in another flood in 1931. Per the Clark County Courier (Kahoka, MO), August 7, 1931, "The historic covered bridge across Little Cedar four miles east of Hillsboro was sold at auction last Saturday. The high water on July 3rd washed the bridge down the creek about 100 feet. The supervisors decided to put a steel bridge in its place. It is not known when this bridge was erected as the county records do not give a date. But it was probably erected about 1876..."

Source:
Clark County Courier (Kahoka, MO), August 7, 1931.

Compilation 2026 Covered Spans of Yesteryear

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