Ann wrote:
On Wed, 26 May 2010 07:02:43 -0700, MNRebecca wrote:

Thanks for all the input, everybody. I've sent an inquiry to the local
historical society. I'd love to know when this was built. WPA project?
Did they have this technology when my family owned the farm (1903ish to
1925ish)? I'll be in the area again for Memorial Day Weekend to
decorate the graves of family members and will try to take more pictures
then. Didn't get a single one straight across the traveling path of the
bridge!

R.

Courtesy of Google, it looks like what's referred to as a pony truss
bridge. In the early 1900s, they were the cheapest bridge design for
short spans and a number of companies made them. By the time the
depression and WWII were over, highway departments had moved on to newer
designs (than steel truss). Example of one still in use:

http://bridgehunter.com/in/gibson/2600283/


Here is a very large one I travel on a couple days a week. All 20 pics
are this same bridge. It's a very unique design.

http://bridgehunter.com/tn/jefferson/bh37371/

I don't know why part of it is concrete? The highest steel span is also
wider, it looks as if it were made for large sail boats but I don't
think the lake is deep enough for a boat that large. Being so old and
carrying a lot of traffic, it under goes an inspection every year and it
is closed for the day of the inspection.


It must be a part of the great TVA (Tennessee valley authority) project
because they built the dam that made this bridge necessary. In the
winter when there isn't a lot of rain they use all the water for
hydro-electric and the lake becomes a river again. Some people bought
Lake Front houses during the summer, then in the winter it's dirt and
mud for hundreds of yards until they can reach the river. Some bitch,
some buy 4 wheelers to take advantage of the wintertime fun.