TOP: Frisco Railroad trestle #1, Winslow

TOP: Frisco Railroad trestle #1, Winslow (Washington County),
about 1900.
John D. Little Collection (S-92-109-42)
BOTTOM: Frisco Railroad trestle #1, Winslow, about 1909.
Mrs. Kenneth Tillotson Collection (S-90-91-18)
The St. Louis & San Francisco Railroad (the “Frisco”) came to
Northwest Arkansas in 1881. The Delaware Bridge Company built
three trestles for the railroad near Winslow, including the longest
one, #1, in 1882. That trestle is 780-feet long and, at its highest,
rises 115 feet over the valley floor.
The original iron trestle was replaced with a steel trestle in 1907.
Deck plate girders were added to allow heavier steam engines
and longer freight trains.
The trestle is still in use by the Arkansas & Missouri Railroad.
Passengers on the railroad’s excursion train to Van Buren have a
bird’s-eye view of the rugged, spectacular valley.
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Shiloh Museum of Ozark History
Kansas City & Memphis Railway trestle, Elm Springs
(Washington County), March 1911.
Marion Mason Collection (S-2001-70-17)
The cut timber and peeled-log trestle at Elm Springs was built in
1911 over a wide floodplain bordered by hills. At 1,116 feet in
length, it was probably the longest trestle in Northwest Arkansas.
The railroad faced financial difficulties because its main line
paralleled that of its rival, the Frisco. There wasn’t enough
business. In 1918 the railroad ceased operation. During World
War I the steel track was removed for the war effort. The trestles
were likely left in place.
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Engine #3 pushing a lumber car during the construction of
the St. Louis & North Arkansas Railroad bridge, Kings River,
Grandview (Carroll County), 1901.
Carroll County Heritage Center Collection (S-84-211-87)
This deck truss bridge with trestle approaches was built in 19001901 by the Wisconsin Bridge & Iron Company, builders of many
steel bridges in Northwest Arkansas. In February 1901 it was
reported that about two miles of track were being laid every day.
This railroad line changed hands several times, eventually
becoming the Arkansas & Ozarks Railway before being
abandoned in 1961.
Shiloh Museum of Ozark History
Swinging footbridge, Kings River, Marble (Madison County),
about 1915.
William H. Chenault Collection (S-2005-37-39)
The 3-feet wide, 200-feet long cable footbridge was built by P.B.
Reed of Huntsville. The contract stated that the bridge would be
no more than 15 feet above the low-water level of the river. The
builder provided all materials except the rock needed for the
foundation and anchors.
Arkansas Highway 7 bridge, Little Buffalo River, Jasper
(Newton County), about 1925.
Bob Besom Collection (S-82-213-12)
The bridge over the Little Buffalo River was built in 1924-1925.
The two-span, Parker through-truss bridge was replaced in 1974.
The cables used for the bridge were three-quarter inch in
diameter. Turnbuckles allowed the cables to be tightened so that
the sag was no more than five-and-one-half feet overall. A sign
on the bridge states, “Five dollar fine for any one to add any
extra strain on bridge.”
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Shiloh Museum of Ozark History
St. Louis & North Arkansas Railroad bridge, Long Creek, Alpena
(Boone County), 1901.
W.P. Shumate, photographer. Carroll County Heritage Center Collection (S-84-211-92)
The Wisconsin Bridge & Iron Company built this deck truss bridge
with trestle approaches in 1900-1901. The steel members for the
bridge were brought from Eureka Springs by wagon. A Swede
by the name of Ole Loken was the supervisor for both the Long
Creek and Kings River bridges. He was especially proud of their
handsome deck truss spans.
The bridge was situated in the middle of an S-curve making for a
picturesque scene for travelers. A large portion of the trestle was
burned in 1920 by striking railroad workers. Financial difficulties
caused by a bridge collapse and the switch to transporting goods
by truck led to the abandonment of the railroad in 1961.
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War Eagle Craft Fair visitors, War Eagle (Benton County),
October 16, 1987.
Springdale News Collection (SN 10-16-1987)
Several small fords used to cross the War Eagle Creek in the
1800s, but floods washed them out, preventing area residents from
traveling to town. In 1907 about 100 residents signed a petition
asking for a permanent bridge. Construction began later that
year on the $4,790, Parker through-truss bridge built by the Illinois
Steel Bridge Company.
The 304-feet long bridge is still in use, although weight limits have
been placed on it. At one time there was talk of replacing the
bridge but concerned citizens argued for its preservation. The
bridge is on the National Register of Historic Places.
Shiloh Museum of Ozark History
Missouri & North Arkansas Railroad bridge, White River, Beaver
(Carroll County), about 1910.
Frank O’Donnel Collection (S-83-157-44)
When the bridge was first built in 1882-1883 for the Eureka
Springs Railway, it was able to support the standard axle loading
of the day (the weight supported by each axle). Later locomotives
and cars were heavier. As it was impractical to strengthen the
existing bridge, the Wisconsin Bridge & Iron Company built a new,
heavier bridge and moved the spans into place in 1907.
Lafayette Street bridge (with Maple Street bridge in
background), Fayetteville (Washington County), about 1909.
Speece & Aaron, photographers. Mrs. Kenneth Tillotson Collection
(S-90-91-1)
A bridge was first built in this location just north of the Frisco depot
in 1884. It was later replaced by another wood bridge before a
$30,000 Art Deco-style concrete bridge was built in 1938.
The bridge and the deep cut through a limestone bluff just beyond
it, known as “The Narrows,” was a popular excursion trip for
tourists staying in Eureka Springs. On the Fourth of July fireworks
were shot off the bluff. Planks placed between the rails of the
bridge allowed visitors to walk across it to a rocky beach or to the
little town of Beaver.
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Shiloh Museum of Ozark History
TOP: White River bridge near Rogers (Benton County), about
1912.
Bob Besom Collection (S-82-170-3)
BOTTOM: Highway 12 bridge near Rogers, August 1964.
Springdale News Collection (SN 8-1964)
In 1904 a steel Parker through-truss bridge was built east of
Rogers over the White River. It became obsolete during the
construction of Beaver Lake.
The old bridge was torn down in 1963 as its replacement was on
the rise nearby. When area residents were told the new concrete
girder bridge would span from one hill to the next, they couldn’t
believe it. It was hard to imagine a huge lake in their valley. Folks
traveled to the construction site to take photos and home movies.
In 2008 travelers saw water lapping just below the deck of the
bridge as record rains flooded the lake.
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Shiloh Museum of Ozark History
“Little Golden Gate” bridge, White River, Beaver (Carroll
County), November 6, 1994.
Scott Flanagin, photographer. Northwest Arkansas Times Collection (NWAT 11-61994)
The wire suspension bridge at Beaver is one of a handful of such
bridges left in Arkansas. It was built in 1949 by the Pioneer
Construction Company of Malvern for $107,785. It replaced a
concrete bridge that washed out in the early 1940s.
Although it has a weight limit, this single-lane, 554-feet long
bridge is still in use. Because of the bridge’s arch, drivers can’t see
if a car is coming from the opposite side. When two cars meet the
one furthest along has the right-of-way; the other car must back
up. The rippling motion of the bridge can be unnerving.
This picturesque bridge is a favorite of automotive and motorcycle
clubs and was seen in the 2005 film Elizabethtown. At one time
scheduled for demolition, the bridge is now on the National
Register of Historic Places.
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Shiloh Museum of Ozark History
Bridge construction, War Eagle Creek, Withrow Springs
(Madison County), 1914.
May Markley Reed Collection (S-84-155-63)
Bridge construction, Osage Creek, Berryville (Carroll County),
1901.
Carroll County Heritage Center Collection (S-86-211-9)
This 280-feet long steel Pratt through-truss bridge was the first
big bridge in Madison County. It was built 1914-1915 by the
Leavenworth Bridge Company of Kansas for $6,462. P.B. Reed
of Huntsville, builder of the swinging bridge at Marble, served as
construction foreman.
The bridge was paid for in part by a one mill tax levied on county
residents. Citizens near the new structure also contributed $700, a
portion of which was used to build the approaches. The bridge is
still in use as part of Highway 23, but in need of costly repairs.
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Some of the equipment used to build this two-span, Pratt throughtruss bridge can be seen, including a winch and the rigging used
to raise the metal supports. The piers which hold up the deck are
poured concrete. The pier on the farther edge of the creek bed
appears broken and unused.
The bridge collapsed in March 1999, causing a man in a pickup
truck to plunge into the creek. Prior to his crossing, a concrete
truck that was too heavy for the posted weight limit on the bridge
had traveled across it, likely weakening the bridge.
Shiloh Museum of Ozark History
Tilly Willy bridge, West Fork of the White River, near
Fayetteville (Washington County), 1980s.
Swinging footbridge, Cincinnati Creek, Cincinnati (Washington
County), May 16, 1909.
Suttle, photographer. Ruth Ann Wilson Collection (S-83-324-41)
Joe Neal, photographer. Joe Neal Collection (S-88-247-35)
Although now used as a bridge, the structure was built in 1928
as the fourth dam in Fayetteville’s Water Improvement District
#
1. Over a period of about 20 years a series of dams were built
along the White River to impound water for the growing city of
Fayetteville, during a time when the area was facing drought. In
1930 a fifth and final dam was built, creating Lake Wilson.
Before the footbridge was built, folks had to cross the creek by
foot. G.W. Bond remembered a time in his youth when he spied
Brother Hanks removing his shoes and socks and rolling up his pant
legs to ford the cold waters of the creek. Definitely not a dignified
look for a preacher!
Tilly Willy may owe its interesting name to Matilda Wilson who
lived in the area and likely had a ford named after her. The 160feet long concrete and rock bridge is still in use, but, as of 2008, is
scheduled for replacement.
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Shiloh Museum of Ozark History
Bridge construction at Lake Wedington (Washington County),
about 1937.
C.B. Wiggans, photographer. Ann Wiggans Sugg Collection (S-91-74-66)
The rock and mortar bridge was built around 1937 by members
of the Civilian Conservation Corps under the direction of
C.B. Wiggans of Fayetteville, project manager. While some
mechanized equipment was used to build park structures, most of
the work was accomplished with the use of mule teams, pickaxes,
and shovels. The construction materials came from the land itself.
Lake Wedington was built by the Works Progress Administration
to show farmers how their worn-out or eroded fields could be
developed for beneficial use. The project also offered muchneeded jobs to an area suffering the financial woes of the Great
Depression. Salaries ranged from 25 to 50 cents an hour for a
ten-hour day.
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Twin Bridge #1, Baron Creek Ford, near Morrow (Washington
County), 1970s.
Washington County Historical Society Collection (P-4755)
In 1922 the Luten Bridge Company of Tennessee built this concrete
arch bridge located on Washington County Road #3412. The
company’s founder, Daniel B. Luten, was a civil engineer who
specialized in reinforced concrete bridges, patenting a number
of innovations and designs. For many years his company held a
monopoly on such bridges.
Twin Bridge #2 is smaller and located a few hundred feet away.
Both bridges are on the National Register of Historic Places.
Shiloh Museum of Ozark History
White River bridge, Highway 68 (later Highway 412), near
Sonora (Washington County), about 1961.
Vince Little Collection (S-2001-57)
The 617-feet long steel and concrete girder bridge was built in
1961 by the E.E. Barber Construction Company of Fort Smith.
It replaced an old through-truss bridge that was considered
inadequate by 1945. Nearby Springdale was a growing town
and there was too much traffic for a one-lane bridge built for
horse-drawn wagons.
In the late 1940s the roads on either side of the White River were
finally paved, but the Korean War and other difficulties kept the
bridge from being built. When construction finally began, the
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers helped with building costs since the
waters of Beaver Lake, then under development, would back up in
the White River and cover nearby property.
Sometime around the turn of the 21st century the bridge
was blown up, following the construction of two double-lane
replacement bridges further north.
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Shiloh Museum of Ozark History