Shields’ Mill Covered Bridge

The Shields’ Mill Covered Bridge is a Burr arch truss structure spanning the East Fork White River in Jackson County, Indiana.

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The Shields’ Mill Covered Bridge, also known as the Shieldstown Covered Bridge, is a historic Burr arch truss structure spanning the East Fork White River in Jackson County, Indiana.

History

After 1850, Indiana law permitted local communities to form bridge companies when tax revenues were insufficient to fund construction. ² Thirteen German farming families in Jackson County, south of the East Fork White River, sought a reliable crossing to transport grain to Shields, where trains connected to the Ohio & Mississippi Railroad.

The bridge’s location was along a historic French fur trading route. ² In 1823, the Indiana General Assembly established Mock’s Ferry Road (also known as Mauck’s Ferry Road), one of three major routes through Jackson County. In February 1829, James H. Hamilton and William H. Robertson petitioned for a ferry crossing, laying 40-foot timbers in the riverbed. Andrew Hamilton later inherited and sold part of this land to William H. and Lycurgus S. Shields. By 1860, Meedy W. Shields owned several acres near a mill operated by his son, William H. Shields.

With Meedy’s support, William established Shields’ Mill, a water-powered mill on the White River. ² After Meedy’s death, his sons founded the village of Shields in April 1866, naming it in his honor and laying out 27 lots.

The Hamilton Township Bridge Company, funded by German-American stockholders investing between $500 and $700 each, spearheaded the bridge project. ² Garrett F. Roeger, a local settler, former commissioner, and stockholder, played a key role. Despite initial county resistance, the company reorganized in 1876 and hired master bridge builder Joseph J. Daniels of Rockville. The project became the second such effort to span the river, with many of the same investors participating.

Construction

The Hamilton Township Bridge Company hired Daniels to plan and build a covered bridge with the approval of the Jackson County Board of Commissioners. ² The bridge would serve the local agricultural community and later link to a popular fishing, hunting, and recreational area known first as Hamilton Grove, later as the Seymour Elk Club, and eventually as Camp Sustus, a private camp operated by the Haas family.

The bridge consisted of two spans supported by a cut limestone pier and abutments, with poplar wood forming the arches. ² The portals were painted with three coats of white paint, while the siding was finished with iron red oxide. The bridge’s portal included the build year “1876” and the names of key contributors: J. J. Daniels (Contractor/Builder), William H. Hamilton (Auditor), and John J. Horstman (Treasurer).

Maintenance

In 1887, cemented cutwater forms were added to the center pier to prevent undercutting. ² By 1892, the bridge decking had been replaced, and in 1902, the roof was reshingled. The bridge received a fresh coat of paint in 1922.

In 1925, a five-ton weight limit was imposed due to concerns about structural integrity. ² That same year, significant repairs were made, including the replacement of damaged arch segments, joists, and stringers. Emergency repairs involved adding or replacing wooden oak floor beams, and in 1939, a diagonal floor decking was installed.

In 1938 and again in the late 1960s, several wooden arch timbers were replaced with metal components, and a standing rib metal roof was installed between 1948 and 1953. ² In 1970, the bridge was closed to automobile traffic, and ownership was transferred to the Jackson County Park & Recreation Board.

On October 26, 1980, a modern concrete and steel bridge bypassed the covered bridge. ² In 1988 and 1989, after receiving funds, the downstream siding was replaced, and the bridge was repainted. However, inadequate coverage led to water damage, exposing the lower arch timbers. Additionally, the downstream arch timber at the pier seat had deteriorated severely, while the lower chords suffered damage from prolonged exposure to animal waste. ² Four broken oak floor joists, damaged before the bridge’s closure to automobile traffic in 1980, were in disrepair.

Federal National Historic Covered Bridge rehabilitation funds were secured in 2006, with an additional $650,000 towards work received on behalf of the County Commissioners. ² The Indiana Department of Transportation transferred funds received for the Bell Ford Covered Bridge and reapplied them to the Shields’ Mill and Medora Covered Bridges. This allowed Janssen Spaans to conduct preliminary engineering between 2012 and 2014.

Duncan Robertson Inc. of Franklin was awarded the contract for the restoration project in early 2015, ³ which was estimated to cost $1.036 million. ² A subcontractor began work in the spring, which focused on repairing the arches and replacing the roof and rafters, and damaged oak floor joists. The siding was removed in June and reused for a shed at a county park. The project then stalled for months because nearly 70% of the wood obtained for the sides of the bridge couldn’t be used after they failed to meet national historic preservation standards. ³

Subcontractor Square and Level Construction of Bridgeton resumed work on August 7, 2017. ³ The restoration work was completed in July 2018 ¹ at the cost of $1.1 million. ³ Jackson County funded 20% of the work, while a National Historic Covered Bridge grant covered the remainder. The Indiana Department of Transportation administered the federal monies and assured compliance with federal standards.

The bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2016, preserving its legacy as a significant historical structure in Indiana.

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Details

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Sources

1. Sutter, Chris. “Historic Jackson County, Ind. bridge to undergo repairs.” WDRB, 26 Feb. 2015.
2. Arthur, Fleeta. “Shields’ Mill Covered Bridge.” National Park Service, 26 Jan. 2016.
3. Woods, Aubrey. “Covered bridge project winding down.” The Tribune, 29 Mar. 2018.