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Monroe
county has been a place distinctive for the long lasting
covered bridges. In 1920, the county had five
“Elliot-type” bridges, almost half of all covered bridges
in the state. In
1940, four were in the county.
In 1950, it had three of ten remaining in Missouri.
In 1960, the county had two of seven.
Now it has one of five remaining and that one was
nearly destroyed lately. Plainly, the distinction has not been
protected, has been fading, and was almost erased by the
recent flood.
The
last covered bridge is the “Union” bridge over the Elk
Fork of Salt River.
It was named for the Union Church that used to be
nearby and is about eight miles southwest of Paris, just off
county highway C. The bridge is on the old “Paris to Fayette
Road” and is one of five double-arched Burr Truss bridges
built by Jos. C. Elliott of Payson, Illinois.
Jos.
C. Elliott built his first bridge for Monroe county on the
North Fork of Salt River near Stoutsville.
The bridge was built for the much traveled “middle”
route from Paris to Hannibal.
Elliott started it in 1856 and completed it in June
1857. The county
court was highly pleased by his work and contracted for three
more such bridges. Elliott
built these in the next two years, one at Paris, and one at
Santa Fe and one on the Mexico road.
An
open wooden bridge was built over Elk Fork on the Paris to
Fayette road in 1849. This bridge did not last ten years. In
1858, Wm. E. Power built a new uncovered bridge at the site.
This bridge lasted a little over ten years. The
county court record for January 5, 187O, marks the end
of its use.
The
county road commissioner appears and reports the Bridge across
the Elk Fork of Salt River on the Fayette Road rear Union
Church unsafe for travel. The Court therefore condemns said
Bridge as being unsafe for travel and that the floor at each
end be torn up”
On
April 8, 1870, the court ordered two bridges built, one on
North Fork near Elliotsville and the other “across the Elk
Fork of Salt River where the Road leading from Paris to
Fayette crosses said stream, near Union Church and on the same
place of the Old Bridge.” The bridges were ordered to be
built in June. $5,OOO was immediately appropriated for the
purpose.
On
June 6, when bids were to be decided on, a petition was
received from many citizens of the county asking that the Elk
Fork bridge be located at or near “Deavers Mill on the road
leading from Paris to Centralia and Sturgeon.” After hearing
reasons for and against the change the court judges ordered
action on the matter at the July term of court.
On
June 9, the court ordered the road commissioner to advertise
the “letting” of the building of the two bridges, each to
have a span of 120 feet, to be built on rock abutments and on
some of the most approved plans.
On
July 6, 1870, Avery Grimes and others asked for a change in
the location of the bridge. The motion was overruled. On the
next day the court awarded the building contract to
“Joseph Elliot of Payson, Illinois. On September 7, 1871,
the court ordered the last payment of $1,500 to Joseph Elliott
builder of the bridge across the Elk Fork of Salt River on the
road leading from Paris to Fayette by the way of Middle
Grove.” It
was ordered that he be paid an additional sum for rubblework
on the bridge. An approach was built and the bridge opened to
public use in September 1871.
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