Though many were designed to last only fifty to seventy-five years, a well-built concrete bridge should be able to last about a century. In Kansas, at least, it was often boasted that everything save the mortar was sourced locally when a stone bridge was built. Now, over a century later, it is still serving residents of southern Butler County, Kansas. Built with local material and local labor, this 1906 bridge cost $900 and took about six months to construct. The builder of this masterpiece was a resident of Butler County - Charles C. The Minos West Ford Bridge in Butler County, Kansas. Thus, a valuable aid to local transportation could be had while keeping most of the money required for such a project within the community. ![]() It was not uncommon for local residents of an area to be benefited by the bridge to “chip in” by contributing stone, or perhaps find some paying work by hauling stone or helping with the masonry. One major appeal with stone arch bridges was the fact that local resources went into the bridge, which was then built by local labor, as opposed to outsourcing all the labor and materials. For this reason, the community member often felt they had a certain stake in the bridge, and took pride in the structure their efforts helped build. Historically, stone arch bridges were often built by local builders using locally sourced stones, which are often readily available. ![]() The result is that every stone arch bridge has its own subtle differences, which give it its own unique appearance, quite different from the standardized form of concrete bridges. Furthermore, no two stone bridges are exactly alike, particularly those not built with stones cut to templates. ![]() Silliman/Badger Creek Bridge in Cowley County, Kansas, shows the simple beauty of a stone arch bridge, and how well such a structure blends into the landscape.Įven without embellishments, the natural, simple shape of a stone arch bridge makes it unquestionably a beautiful structure.
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