At one time there were more than 500 covered bridges in Indiana. Only 86 remain and Fountain County is home to three — Cade’s Mill in Wabash Township being the oldest that remains on its original site.
These bridges were important economic as well as social links for the development of western Indiana. Cade’s Mill covered bridge was a link between the Wabash Valley area, with Covington as the county seat of Fountain County, and the land office in Crawfordsville. It was so essential that the Wabash & Erie Canal Association provided financial support for its structure in 1854.
The Fountain County Historical Committee, working under the auspices of the Fountain County Art Council Inc. and county government undertook the restoration project in September 2019. Fifty-two thousand dollars of donated funds was spent on stabilization. Repair specifications by Kurdziel & Barker Bridge engineers of Indianapolis were completed in 2023.
Four years of grant writing, fund raising, and promotion have netted $350,000. A successful bid of $409,000 was awarded to Structural Systems Repair Group of Cincinnati, Ohio in December 2023. This will address the repair of the understructure and entrance portals. Entry railing, concrete work and painting will require an additional $50,000. Work is slated to begin in the spring of 2024.
As the county’s 200th birthday (July 2026) approaches it is only fitting that the public do everything possible to preserve, conserve, rehab and restore Fountain County’s three remaining covered bridges. They are gems from the past that need to remain for future generations. Please consider donating. All funds are managed by the Western Indiana Community Foundation and are tax deductible. Donations can be mailed to: WICF, Attn: Bridge Fund, 135 Stringtown Road, P.O. Box 175, Covington, Indiana 47932.
Contact Carol Ann Freese for any question or discussion 765-299-3346, houselions@att.net or Henry Schmitt 765-585-8374, or Jim Hegg 217-799-1213.
