Thomas Town lattice truss bridge - Indiana, PA
N 40° 39.860 W 079° 14.210
17T E 649038 N 4502990
This bridge, spanning Crooked Creek, shows a beautiful Town lattice truss design.
Waymark Code: WM15EG9
Location: Pennsylvania, United States
Date Posted: 12/20/2021
Views: 5
Town Lattice Truss
The Thomas Bridge is constructed with Town lattice trusses. The Town truss is named after Ithiel Town of New Haven, CT who patented the truss design in 1820.
The majority of covered bridges in Indiana County utilized a Town lattice truss system.
The design was adapted very quickly because of its use of smaller dimensional lumber, ease of construction, and its ability to cross spans up to 200 feet in length.
Ithiel Town is largely remembered as a designer of Greek Revival public buildings, especially County courthouses. Although he only built a few bridges himself, Town actively promoted his design, oftenn while meeting with County Commissioners. He received royalties of a dollar a foot from bridge builders who used the Town truss. Covered bridge builders who used his design but failed to receive patent approval prior to construction, were charged two dollars a foot.
There are twenty Town lattice truss bridges remaining in Pennsylvania, three of them are in Indiana County. These include the Harmon, Trusal, and Thomas Covered Bridges.
Thomas Bridge
Built 1879, Builder Amos Thomas
Reconstructed 1998
Indiana County Commissioners
Bernie Smith, Randy Degenkolb, James McQuown
Engineer: Gibson-Thomas Engineering Co., Inc.
Contractor: Speria Construction Inc.
Date Built: 01/01/1879
Length of Span:
75 feet
Parking Coordinates:: Not Listed
www: Not listed
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Visit Instructions:
Log your find with a picture of the bridge with yourself or your GPS in the foreground. This shot does not have to be taken "on" the bridge. The shot should show the "truss" structure of the bridge as well.