OLD FISHERS FORD TRUSS MORGAN COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA STATE PROJECT S333-9-12.39 FR#: 09-634-MN STATE LEVEL HISTORIC DOCUMENTATION SEPTEMBER 2009 West Virginia Department of Transportation Division of Highways Engineering Division Environmental Section (304) 558-3236
STATE LEVEL HISTORIC DOCUMENTATION OLD FISHERS FORD TRUSS Location: Morgan County Route 9/2, over Cacapon River Morgan County West Virginia Date of Construction: 1912 USGS Great Cacapon Quadrangle Builder: Present Owner: Present Use: Significance: Owego Bridge Company of New York West Virginia Department of Transportation Division of Highways 1900 Kanawha Boulevard, Building 5, Room A-110 Charleston, WV 25305 Transportation The Old Fishers Ford Truss is eligible for the National Register of Historic Places under Criteria A and C. The bridge replaced a ford over the Cacapon River, vastly improving travel between the northern and southern parts of Morgan County. The bridge was constructed during a time of transportation improvements throughout western Morgan County. The bridge is also a notable example of the Pennsylvania truss, despite the loss of the deck and some members. Project Information: This bridge is being removed as part of the replacement of the current structure on West Virginia Route 9 upstream. The current structure is severely deteriorated and poses a safety hazard. The documentation was undertaken in September 2009 in accordance with a Memorandum of Agreement between the West Virginia Department of Transportation and West Virginia State Historic Preservation Office. These measures are required prior to removal of this National Register-eligible structure. Courtney Fint, Structural Historian West Virginia Division of Highways Charleston, WV 25305 September 2009
Old Fishers Ford Truss 2 The Old Fishers Ford Truss is a one-span modified Pennsylvania truss built in 1912 by the Owego Bridge Company of New York. The structure is steel and has pin connections. The structure is 245 feet in length and rests on concrete abutments. The deck has been removed. Morgan County is located in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia and is best known for its thermal springs at the town of Bath, also known as Berkeley Springs. George Washington visited Berkeley Springs at the age of 16 in 1748, and returned many times to take the waters. The county was formed in 1820 from parts of Hampshire and Berkeley counties, and was named for Revolutionary War hero Daniel Morgan. The county is rural and has only two incorporated towns, Berkeley Springs and Paw Paw. 1 The first major industry in Morgan County was tourism, which continues to provide revenue today. The Civil War and several fires impaired the tourism industry in the late 19 th century, but the construction of the B&O Railroad later helped to revitalize it. 2 Other important industries included agriculture and silica mining. 3 Today, Morgan County is growing as a retirement and commuter community due to its relative proximity to Washington, DC. Fishers Ford is located in southern Morgan County, approximately four miles from the Hampshire County line. The Old Fishers Ford Truss is located on an original alignment of WV Route 9 approximately 7 miles south of the town of Great Cacapon, which is located near the juncture of the Potomac and Cacapon Rivers. Route 9 was designated part of the Washington Heritage Trail Scenic Byway; George Washington owned land along the Potomac River near Great Cacapon. Based on its name, Fisher Ford is assumed to be a traditional crossing of the Cacapon River. The crossing appears on a 1916 United States Geological Survey topographic map, along with nearby Ziler Ford. No further information could be found regarding the origins or history of the crossing. An 1820 map of Morgan County shows roads, rivers and mills in the county, but is not easily correlated to modern maps in order to determine if any mills existed near the project location. 1 Ken Sullivan, ed., The West Virginia Encyclopedia, (Charleston, WV: West Virginia Humanities Council, 2006): 498-499. 2 A Brief History of Morgan County and Berkeley Springs, (Berkeley Springs, WV: Morgan County Historical Society, 2002) < www.mchgs.com/history.html > 3 Sullivan 498.
Old Fishers Ford Truss 3 The Old Fishers Ford Truss was built in 1912. It appears to be part of a series of linkages and improvements to the road along the Cacapon River. Steel truss bridges were erected in 1916 in Great Cacapon (to link the town to Berkeley Springs) and Largent (to eliminate a ford). 4 The bridge is a one-span Pennsylvania truss and was constructed by the Owego Bridge Company. The Owego Bridge Company was founded by Ellery Colby in 1892 and ceased operations in 1917. In 1910, the company was involved in a controversy along with a number of other bridge companies regarding collusive bidding and bribery of a United States Senator, resulting in an investigation of the senator. 5 The company appears to have continued operations and may have merged with the American Bridge Company. 6 The Pennsylvania truss, also called Petit, is an evolution of the Parker truss, and was created to span longer distances by the addition of sub-struts and sub-ties. The Pennsylvania truss came into use about 1875 and was used into the early 20 th century. The Old Fishers Ford Truss is slightly irregular in its configuration of sub-struts and sub-ties. This is most likely a result of loss of members due to deterioration. The Old Fishers Ford Truss was replaced in 1956 with a steel girder structure on an alignment approximately 300 feet upstream, and has not been in use since that time. 4 Morgan County West Virginia and its People, Morgan County Historical and Genealogical Society, 1981, 20. 5 Allds Quits Post as Senate Leader, The New York Times, February 24, 1910. 6 A letter quoted in Allds Quits Post as Senate Leader refers to a proposition to enlarge the Owego Bridge Company under this new combination with the American Bridge Company, but no further reference could be found regarding a merger. The American Bridge Company is known to have bought hundreds of smaller bridge companies in the early 20 th century.
Old Fishers Ford Truss 4 BIBLIOGRAPHY A Brief History of Morgan County and Berkeley Springs. Berkeley Springs, WV: Morgan County Historical Society, 2002. < www.mchgs.com/history.html > Jenkins, Mary M. Place Names in West Virginia. Charleston, WV: West Virginia Division of Culture and History, ca. 1980. < http://www.wvculture.org/history/wvplacenames.html > Kemp, Emory. West Virginia s Historic Bridges. Morgantown, WV: West Virginia University, 1984. Morgan County West Virginia and its People. Berkeley Springs, WV: Morgan County Historical and Genealogical Society, 1981. New York Times, Allds Quits Post as Senate Leader, February 24, 1910. QK4. Design Report: Bridge Replacement Fishers Ford Bridge. December 2006. On file at West Virginia Division of Highways. Sullivan, Ken, ed., The West Virginia Encyclopedia. Charleston, WV: West Virginia Humanities Council, 2006. Travel Berkeley Springs. Great Cacapon. The Washington Heritage Trail in Morgan County. Berkeley Springs, WV: 2004. << http://www.berkeleysprings.com/trail/gwtrail-10.html>>. United States Geological Survey. 1976 Baileysville 7.5' Minute Series Topographic Quadrangle, Washington, D.C. Washington Heritage Trail, Inc. West Virginia s Eastern Panhandle Washington Heritage Trail. 2004. << http://www.washingtonheritagetrail.org/>>. West Virginia Division of Culture and History. Archaeological and County Inventory files. State Historic Preservation Office, WV Division of Culture and History, Charleston.
STATE LEVEL HISTORIC DOCUMENTATION INDEX TO PHOTOGRAPHS Old Fishers Ford Truss Morgan County Route 9/2 Cacapon River Morgan County, West Virginia Photographer: Courtney Fint March 2008 OLD FISHERS FORD TRUSS -1 OLD FISHERS FORD TRUSS -2 OLD FISHERS FORD TRUSS -3 OLD FISHERS FORD TRUSS -4 OLD FISHERS FORD TRUSS -5 OLD FISHERS FORD TRUSS -6 OLD FISHERS FORD TRUSS -7 OLD FISHERS FORD TRUSS -8 OLD FISHERS FORD TRUSS -9 OLD FISHERS FORD TRUSS -10 OLD FISHERS FORD TRUSS -11 Oblique view from north bank looking downstream Overall view from north bank looking downstream North abutment South abutment Detail of pin connection North portal Oblique view from north bank looking upstream South portal Detail of railing and pin connection View of floor structure from south approach Overall view from upstream
HIGHWAY MAP Fisher Ford Bridge Replacement Morgan County State Project S333-9-12.39 Federal Project BR-0009(160)E
TOPOGRAPHIC MAP Great Cacapon USGS 7½ Topographic Quadrangle Fisher Ford Bridge Replacement Morgan County State Project S333-9-12.39 Federal Project BR-0009(160)E
HPI 2 Old Fisher Ford truss.doc Internal Rating: WEST VIRGINIA HISTORIC PROPERTY INVENTORY FORM Street Address Common/Historic Name/Both Field Survey # Site # (SHPO Only) CR 9/2 Old Fishers Ford Truss HPI-2 Town or Community Fisher Ford County Morgan Negative No. NR Listed Date Architect/Builder Date of Construction Style (SHPO Only) Owego Bridge Company 1912 Exterior Siding / Materials Construction material: steel Roofing Material Deck material: no deck Foundation Abutments: concrete Property Use or Function Transportation Survey Organization & Date WVDOH July 30, 2007 UTM Zone 17 NAD 1983 Easting 727,926 Northing 4,378,820 Quadrangle Name Great Cacapon Part of What Survey / FR# Site No.
Name: Fisher Ford Truss Survey #: 2 Survey / FR#: State Project No. S355-6-7.64 Present Owners WVDOT Owners Mailing Address Capitol Complex, Charleston, WV HPI 2 Old Fisher Ford truss.doc Describe Setting <1 Acres Archaeological Artifacts Present The Old Fishers Ford Truss crosses the Cacapon River approximately 7 miles south of the town of Great Cacapon. It is located on an unpaved road off Route 9, and is not currently in use. The surrounding landscape is rural in nature. There are a few residences in the vicinity. Description of Buildings or Site (Original and Present) Stories Front Bays See continuation sheet. Alterations Yes No If yes, describe The deck has been removed. Several sub-ties and sub-struts have deteriorated and been removed or fallen. Additions Yes No If yes, describe Describe All Outbuildings Statement of Significance: See Continuation Sheet Bibliographical References McAlester, V. and L. 1984. A field guide to American Houses. NY: Alfred A. Knopf Kemp, Emory. 1984. Survey of Historic Bridges in West Virginia. MS at WVDOH. Form Prepared By: Date: May 28, 2010 Name/Organization: Courtney Fint, Address: WV Division of Highways Capitol Complex Building 5, Rm. 463 Charleston, WV 25305 Phone #: 558-7421
WEST VIRGINIA HISTORIC PROPERTY FORM CONTINUATION SHEET HPI 2 Old Fisher Ford truss.doc Name: Fisher Ford Truss Survey Number: HPI-2 Project / FR#: Description The Old Fisher Ford Truss is a one-span modified Pennsylvania truss built in 1912 by the Owego Bridge Company of New York. The structure is steel and has pin connections. The structure is 245 feet in length and rests on concrete abutments. The deck has been removed. Statement of Significance The Old Fisher Ford Truss was built in 1912. It appears to be part of a series of linkages and improvements to the road along the Cacapon River. Steel truss bridges were erected in 1916 in Great Cacapon (to link the town to Berkeley Springs) and Largent (to eliminate a ford). The bridge is a one-span Pennsylvania truss and was constructed by the Owego Bridge Company. The Owego Bridge Company was founded by Ellery Colby in 1892 and ceased operations in 1917. In 1910, the company was involved in a controversy along with a number of other bridge companies regarding collusive bidding and bribery of a United States Senator, resulting in an investigation of the senator. The company appears to have continued operations and may have merged with the American Bridge Company. The Pennsylvania truss, also called Petit, is an evolution of the Parker truss, and was created to span longer distances by the addition of sub-struts and sub-ties. The Pennsylvania truss came into use about 1875 and was used into the early 20th century. The Old Fisher Ford Truss is slightly irregular in its configuration of sub-struts and sub-ties. This is most likely a result of loss of members due to deterioration. The Old Fisher Ford Truss is eligible for the National Register of Historic Places under Criteria A and C. The bridge replaced a ford over the Cacapon River, vastly improving travel between the northern and southern parts of Morgan County. The bridge was constructed during a time of transportation improvements throughout western Morgan County. The bridge is also a notable example of the Pennsylvania truss, despite the loss of the deck and some members.