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Chase County Kansas Historical Sketches
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BRIDGES OF FALLS TOWNSHIP
There are five major bridges in Falls Township
at Cottonwood Falls; the Center Bridge one
mile east of town: one east on the hill road across
South Fork, known as the Sid Cahoone Bridge: the
Miller Bridge about three miles east, across the,
Cottonwood River; and one across the River about
five miles east of town just north of the E.E. Andrews home.
Before these bridges were built, there were
fords at or near their sites, but they were dangerous
at times. There was a drowning at the Miller bridge
and one at the Cahoone bridge.
The bridge at Cottonwood Falls was built in
the early days, of steel construction. It connected
Cottonwood Falls with Strong City (then Cotton
wood) . In 1919, this was replaced by a concrete
bridge, just a few feet below where the old bridge
stood. This bridge has recently been condemned,
and the new bridge will be built parallel to the
railroad bridge; the change in K177 through town,
missing the business district, will place the new
bridge close to the railroad bridge. (1972)
The Cartter Bridge just east of town was built
in 1885 and !s above flood stage. It is of steel construction, but the steel has deteriorated; It was recently
condemned and closed to traffic.
The Miller Bridge is a steel bridge, built in
1890, and is still in good condition. (1972)
The South Fork or Cahoone Bridge was built
in 1902 and is still in good condition; load limits
are posted on it, as it was never too strong.
The Andrews Bridge was built of stone, quarried about one mile southwest of the site on land
owned by Elmo Starkey at this time. It was built
with three arches, and was a beautiful work of
masonry; but, it always gave more or less trouble,
as drift collected on the piers and had to be removed. It gave way a few years ago, and was replaced by a concrete bridge.
Beside the Railroad Bridge right east of town,
there is one about 3 1/2 miles east of town on the
El Dorado Branch of the A.T.S.F.
By: Wm. B. Selves
Chase County Centennial, 1872 - 1972
by Lorna Marvin
Please submit your historical sketches.
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Permission is granted for use only on an official KSGenWeb page.
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