PORTLAND MILLS COVERED BRIDGE

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The Portland Mills Covered Bridge, the oldest covered bridge in Parke County, crosses Little Raccoon Creek northeast of Guion on County Road East 650 North near County Road North 720 East, in Section 5, Township 16 North, and Range 6 West. This single span Burr Arch Truss structure has a length of 130 feet, or 146 feet including the 8-foot overhang at each end, is 15 feet wide and 13 feet high. Built in 1856 by Henry Wolf, though no historical marker is present, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.

Originally, the Portland Mills Covered Bridge crossed Big Raccoon Creek on County Road North 1170 East, where Cecil Harden Lake now stands. In 1961 it was scheduled for destruction as the dam that would create that body of water reached completion; however, a reprieve was gained when arrangements were made to move the structure to the previous site of the Dooley Station Covered Bridge.

Following the move to its new home, the Portland Mills Covered Bridge was neglected and deteriorated to the point where it was collapsing into the creek. For a second time the structure was spared destruction when funds from a grant, local organizations, and other donations, made another rebirth possible; the restoration was completed in 1996.

Portland Mills Covered Bridge is listed in the 1989 "World Guide to Covered Bridges," published by The National Society for the Preservation of Covered Bridges, Inc., as #14-61-21; however, the designation used by Parke County officials is #14-61-04 ... in the February 1938 "Indiana History Bulletin" Robert B. Yule and Richard C. Smith assigned the designation "kg" to this Covered Timber Bridge located (original) between Sections 36 and 1, Townships 15 and 16 North, Range 6 West, at Portland Mills.

• Covered Bridge Project Resources

• Regarding Covered Bridge Designations

• PCI, Covered Bridge Capital

... Photographic selection of Parke County Covered Bridges ...