Ada Covered Bridge

{{Short description|Historic bridge in Ada, Michigan, U.S.}} {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}} {{Use American English|date=January 2025}} {{Infobox NRHP | name = Ada Covered Bridge | nrhp_type = | image = Ada Covered Bridge - Michigan.jpg | caption = Upstream view from observation deck in park | location = 7490 Thornapple River Dr SE Ada, MI 49301 | coordinates = {{coord|42|57|09|N|85|29|11|W|display=inline,title}} | locmapin = Michigan#USA | mapframe = yes | mapframe-marker = bridge | mapframe-zoom = 13 | mapframe-caption = Interactive map | built = {{Start date|1867}} | added = {{dts|1970|2|16}} | area = {{convert|2|acre|ha}} | architect = Josiah Brown Jr. | architecture = Brown truss Covered bridge | refnum = 70000275<ref name=NRIS>{{NRISref|2009a}}</ref> | designated_other1 = Michigan State Historic Site | designated_other1_link = Michigan State Historic Preservation Office | designated_other1_date = December 8, 1977 | designated_other1_num_position = bottom }} {{Infobox Bridge | bridge_name = Bridge Statistics | carries = Fase/Bronson St. (footpath) | crosses = Thornapple River | locale = Ada, Michigan | maint = Kent County Road Commission | design = Brown truss Covered bridge | mainspan = 125 ft | length = 125 ft | width = one lane

| open = 1867 | material = Douglas Fir | rebuilt = December 1980 | closed = still open, foot traffic only |website = [http://adamichigan.org/township/departments/parks-recreation/parks/leonard-park Leonard Park] }}

The '''Ada Covered Bridge''' is a {{convert|125|ft|m|adj=on}} span Brown truss covered bridge erected in 1867 in Ada, Michigan, United States. Carrying Bronson Street across the Thornapple River, it is located just south of where the Thornapple enters the Grand River, in turn just south of M-21. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

== Design == The bridge uses the Brown truss system, consisting of diagonal compression beams and almost vertical tension members (slanting in at the top toward the center of the span), patented by Josiah Brown Jr. of Buffalo, New York, in 1857. A timber bearing Brown's name was discovered during repair work carried out in 1913.<ref name="Marker">Historical marker data, from [http://www.michigan.org/travel/detail.asp?m=2&p=B5658 marker detail] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060928225956/http://www.michigan.org/travel/detail.asp?m=2&p=B5658 |date=2006-09-28 }} page on michigan.org site, accessed October 09, 2006</ref>

The bridge is {{convert|125|ft|m}} long, and originally rested on wooden pilings. As is typical for covered bridges, its gabled roof is covered with creosote shingles.

== History ==

The Michigan State Legislature authorised Ada Township to borrow up to $3,000 for building or maintaining bridges in the area. Construction of this bridge, also known as the "Bradfield Bridge" was carried out in 1867 by William Holmes.

Prior to construction of the upstream dam,<ref>An image of this dam: :Image:Ada Michigan ThornappleRiver Dam DSCN9695.JPG</ref> the Thornapple River was prone to flooding. According to a historical marker posted at the bridge, "it is said that farmers used to drive wagons loaded with stones onto the bridge during high water to hold it to the foundation."<ref name="WMTA">Historical marker data, from [http://www.wmta.org/coveredbridges/ada_bridge.html ada bridge] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060508205329/http://www.wmta.org/coveredbridges/ada_bridge.html |date=May 8, 2006 }} page on wmta.org site, accessed October 09, 2006</ref>

Repair work was carried out in 1913 to modify the trusses, and replace the timber abutments with reinforced concrete.<ref name="Marker" /> The bridge was part of an important artery into the village of Ada until 1930, when the main highway was rerouted and a concrete bridge built further down the Thornapple River. At that time the bridge was closed to automobile traffic, reverting to pedestrian use only.

In 1941 the Kent County Road Commission and the Works Progress Administration made extensive restorations, re-roofing the bridge with new protective creosote shingles and replacing many of its decayed underlying supports with new beams. The Road Commission purchased a nearby barn to supply wood for replacement of badly deteriorated elements.<ref>synthesised from [http://www.wmta.org/coveredbridges/ada_bridge.html wmta.org] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060508205329/http://www.wmta.org/coveredbridges/ada_bridge.html |date=May 8, 2006 }} and [http://www.relocate-america.com/states/mi/cities/ada.htm Ada page] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061024002542/http://www.relocate-america.com/states/mi/cities/ada.htm |date=October 24, 2006 }} on relocate-america.com site, accessed October 09, 2006</ref>

The bridge was listed with the Michigan State Register on May 9, 1969, and with the National Register on February 16, 1970. It was awarded a Michigan Historical Marker (site L0075) on August 28, 1974.<ref>marker data from {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20070313033505/http://www.michmarkers.com/startup.asp?startpage=L0075.htm L0075]}} page on michmarkers.com site, accessed October 09, 2006</ref> It is one of four existing publicly owned covered bridges in Michigan.<ref name="Relocate">from [http://www.relocate-america.com/states/mi/cities/ada.htm Ada page] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061024002542/http://www.relocate-america.com/states/mi/cities/ada.htm |date=October 24, 2006 }} on relocate-america.com site, accessed October 09, 2006</ref>

In 1979 the roof collapsed due to heavy snow, and the bridge was restored using funds raised by private donations. Shortly after the repairs were finished, the bridge was completely destroyed by fire. The citizens again rallied, this time with the help of the Amway corporation, headquartered in Ada, and rebuilt it once again. The replica bridge, now resting on concrete abutments, is {{convert|14|ft|m}} wide and {{convert|125|ft|m}} long.

The bridge is now open only to pedestrian traffic and connects the Village of Ada on one side of the Thornapple River with a park on the other side. It is maintained by the Kent County Park system.<ref name="WMTA" /><ref name="Relocate" />

==Images== <gallery mode="packed"> File:Ada Michigan CoveredBridge Plaque DSCN9702.JPG|Historical Marker at the site. File:Ada Michigan Covered Bridge downstream underside DSCN9708.JPG|Underside view, showing truss ends protruding from the sheathing. File:Ada Michigan Covered Bridge InteriorDSCN9711.JPG|Inside, showing Brown truss stringers. </gallery>

== See also == {{portal|Michigan|National Register of Historic Places}} * List of Michigan covered bridges * List of Registered Historic Places in Kent County, Michigan {{Clear}}

== References == {{Reflist}}

== External links == *{{Commons category-inline}} * [https://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&om=1&z=18&ll=42.952477,-85.486325&spn=0.002843,0.004517&t=h Aerial view of the Ada Covered Bridge] * {{Structurae|20006823}}

{{National Register of Historic Places listings in Kent County, Michigan}}

Category:Transportation buildings and structures in Kent County, Michigan Category:Bridges completed in 1867 Category:Pedestrian bridges in Michigan Category:Covered bridges on the National Register of Historic Places in Michigan Category:Burned buildings and structures in the United States Category:Fires in Michigan Category:Works Progress Administration in Michigan Category:Former road bridges in the United States Category:Tourist attractions in Kent County, Michigan Category:1867 establishments in Michigan Category:National Register of Historic Places in Kent County, Michigan Category:Road bridges on the National Register of Historic Places in Michigan Category:Wooden bridges in Michigan