Nearly five years ago the Fountain County Art Council Inc. Historical Committee began the arduous process of fund-raising to preserve, restore and conserve the Cade’s Mill Covered Bridge located in southeast Fountain County. The original bridge construction was completed across Fountain County’s Coal Creek in 1854 and is the oldest covered bridge in the state of Indiana on its original site.
The restoration work on the nearly 170-year-old bridge began this past June. Structural Systems Repair Group from Cincinnati is the contractor and Kurdziel Barker Engineering of Indianapolis serves as consulting engineers.
As Kurdziel Barker engineers explained it, “repairs will fix the sag, correct the lean, reconstruct the lower chords at each of the corners, and apply a fresh coat of paint. The project is on track to be completed this fall, preserving a vital piece of Indiana history for future generations to admire.”
Due to cost overruns, donations are still being accepted and can be sent to Western Indiana Community Foundation Inc., ATTN: Cade’s Mill Bridge Fund, P. 0. Box 175, Covington, IN 47932.
