Over the years we have written about the historic triple-arch bridge over Grouse Creek near Dexter that was originally known as Kirk Bridge but more recently as Pudden Bridge or Esch’s Spur Bridge.
Damaged by flooding, this bridge was allowed to sit a couple of years without repairs until more flooding caused the partial collapse of the middle arch. Though serious, this damage was repairable, albeit with some expense and difficulty. Since the further damage to the bridge, there had been a push from the county to replace this National Register of Historic Places bridge, while some people protested that the bridge should be preserved. This bridge has now been demolished, and Cowley’s largest stone arch bridge (the second largest stone bridge Cowley ever built and one of the largest in the state) has been lost.
The Significance of the Bridge
The Pudden Bridge was a well-documented 1913 Walter Sharp bridge. One of the largest stone bridges in the state, this was also one of the most significant bridges in Cowley. A daring structure at the time, from an engineering standpoint Pudden Bridge was considered to be unique in the area, thanks to its design of low-rise arches on tall piers, compared to the more traditional design of taller arches sprung at the low water line.
When Cowley was designated the Stone Arch Bridge Capital of Kansas, the Pudden Bridge was one of the most well known of the stone bridges, with its three arches and large size. Cowley has been losing some of its largest stone bridges over recent years, and at this point neighboring Butler County has far more stone bridges (as distinct from culverts) than Cowley. What had made Cowley’s stone bridges unique was the daring sizes of these monumental structures; however, in recent years these large stone bridges are an endangered species.
A Possible Replacement Candidate for the National Register of Historic Places
Cowley has lost a major stone bridge that was on the National Register of Historic Places. We suggest the Neer Bridge as a possible candidate for the Register to replace the Pudden Bridge. The Neer Bridge in northern Cowley features a similar idea as the Pudden Bridge, but with an even more unique design from an engineering perspective — two arches high on a pier with ends that curve down to the streambed. This strange feature makes the arches lopsided but, since they are the same size, they balance each other for stability. This 1916 Walter Sharp bridge seems promising as an alternative for the National Register to mitigate the loss of the Pudden Bridge. However, as the story of the Pudden Bridge proves, National Register of Historic Places status is no guarantee that a structure will be maintained and preserved.
Stone Arch Bridges 