Volunteers nearly finish decking the iron bridge
Comet staff report

Hot job The 45 volunteers at the bridge decking day worked in record heat. Pictured near the end of the day (l-r) are Layton Whitus and Clay Sledd. The bridge was built in 1905 by the Winamac Bridge Company. Whitus has a special interest in the bridge because the owners of that company were his relatives. Comet photo by Jennifer Archibald

Saturday was a "banner day" for the approximately 45 volunteers working on the Stearns truss bridge deck.

Three portable sawmills were operating simultaneously - two on the east end and one on the west end of the 78-foot long iron bridge frame.

Dr. Dan Cassens from Purdue's Department of Forestry/Wood Technology Department was the sawyer for the Wood-Mizer sawmill on the west end. He had an even dozen 17-foot long white oak logs to cut. These logs were donated by Pike Lumber Company from its Carbon, Ind. plant.

On the east side were the mills cutting the donated oak from Carroll County. Wood- Mizer Sawmills out of Indianapolis sent representative Matt Biven from Galveston to demonstrate cutting a variety of red and white oak and one walnut log.

Bird's eye view of bridge The plan for decking the iron bridge installed recently over the canal was to start at both ends and meet in the middle. By the end of the day, volunteers nearly completed the task. This photo was taken from a helicopter ride over Delphi as part of Delphi Airport's Fall Foliage Flights. Comet photo by Debbie Lowe

"His mill was brand new and sported the latest in electronic gadgetry to make the job a breeze," said Dan McCain, Canal Board president.

Also on the east was Rollin Graybill and his son from Rockfield with his Wood- Mizer mill that also was used eight years ago on the cutting of deck planks for the Paint Creek "Red" Bridge. This first historic trail bridge is a mile north on the same Canal Towpath. Both rehabilitated bridges are owned by the Canal Association.

"The volunteers who came to break sweat and hammer the planks into their receiving 'nail strips' in the deck did so to show support for this yearlong project," McCain said. "This was hard, hot work but the spirit was strong as the volunteers labored through the day. Nails could be driven in the fresh oak but pilot holes were sometimes drilled to prevent bending so many galvanized spike nails."

For 100 years, the Stearns truss spanned over Big Monon Ditch in Pulaski County. Mc- Cain said nearby was a family that took special interest in the history of the rusty span. It adorned the southeastern skyline from their rural farmstead.

Young Brad Nielsen from Medaryville was a Boy Scout four years ago. For his Eagle Scout badge he researched and wrote the National Register Listing that was approved.

"On Saturday his younger brother Kerry and parents Eric and Pam were at the site in west Delphi working as hard as any other volunteers on the job of decking," McCain said. "The four Nielsens were a strong team that stood out as they tackled the beginning of the deck from the east. Pam seemed to set the pace as she measured each plank and then her husband cut the length. Both brothers were steady in their pace to get the deck pieces down firm. Other volunteers admired the family's teamwork. "

Working in the morning was productive, McCain said, but after the free "Ote Meal" lunch provided by the Psi Iota Xi Sorority at noon, even the searing heat didn't prevent a more productive accomplishment by late afternoon. At the end of the day only about 15 feet of the middle remained to be finished.

The three sawmills finished about the same time and had accumulated well over the 120 two-inch thick planks needed for the deck. Plank widths of 6, 8 and 10 inches were alternated to give the effect of the original deck. McCain said these 17 -foot long oak planks, especially the 10" widths, were quite heavy. Additional shorter boards were cut for trail benches that will be used later, he said.

"A special dedication will commemorate the completion of this one-of-a-kind wrought iron bridge from Winamac Bridge Company," McCain said. "The date will be set for sometime later this fail for the public to come and enjoy this spirited community volunteer effort."