Chinworth Bridge

The bridge is significant locally as the only Pratt through truss bridge remaining in Kosciusko County, and is important regionally as one of the few surviving spans built by the Bellefontaine Bridge and Iron Company.Just west of the bridge was a ford across the Tippecanoe River. The Yellowstone Trail passed on the south side of the river. A marker has been maintained at this location. A post with yellows bands and a "Y" in a black circle In 1884, a new bridge across the Tippecanoe River was requested to connect Warsaw, on the south with a to Atwood and Etna Green on the north. It crossed the property of Robert Chinworth. Capt. David Braden working for the Bellefontaine Bridge and Iron Company agreed to erect a 140ft span over the Tippecanoe River, at a total cost of $2520.00. The bridge opened in August, 1897. In 1924, with the construction of U.S. 30 the Chinworth Bridge was bypassed as it could not handle modern vehicular traffic. The Indiana State Highway Commission, created Tippecanoe Rest Area adjacent to the Chinworth Bridge.In 1975, the enhanced 4-lane U.S. 30 was located north of the Chinworth Bridge. The bridge was closed to all vehicular traffic at that time. In July the Kosciusko County Historical Society obtained the Tippecanoe Rest Park from the State Highway Department. The KCHS dedicated the bridge as a historic landmark on July 6, 1975.DescriptionThe Chinworth Bridge was built by the Bellefontaine Bridge and Iron Company of Bellefontaine, Ohio. It is a 140ft Pratt through truss. The trusses has eight panels, each 17.5ft long, set on abutments of cut stone. The southern abutment has been altered over the years.