This is a list of the stone arch bridges of Butler County, Kansas. While these bridges, for the most part, tend to be smaller than the famous Cowley County stone arch bridges, they still are worth viewing. One interesting observation is that there is an incredible number of stone arch bridges in Butler County. The county historically built many bridges from an early date, and, even more noteworthy, the various townships collectively built hundreds of stone arch culverts, some a mere 3 feet in span. And, as it happens, it is quite possible there are still stone arch culverts in Butler waiting to be discovered.
The Walz Ford Bridge, for example, is not a very well-known structure that still carries the road, though it is high and dry. Another not very well-known stone arch bridge (or, more correctly, stone arch culvert) in Butler is the NW 115th Street Whitewater River Bridge north of Potwin.
We will add to this list as we find more bridges and learn more about them. As we determine the original names of the bridges we will change the name to reflect this. So, for example, the “NE 110th Street Walnut River Bridge” is now called “Ellis Bridge” after it’s original name. Finally, we will be happy to hear of any new stone bridge and culvert discoveries! With hundreds of stone arch bridges and culverts having been built in Butler, it is quite possible there are some still on the road which we are unaware of.
Note to photographers: No trespassing. A “selfie stick” can make difficult bridge pictures possible.
Ellis Bridge
- Where: On NE 110th Street where the road crosses the Walnut River, south and west of Cassoday.
- When: Construction of the original portion began in 1901 and was completed in 1902; bridge received its second full-sized arch in 1906, thereby achieving its final form (minus the cantilevered slab top).
- Built By: Walter Sharp built original section of the bridge. Abe Matheney put the bridge into its final form (minus the cantilevered slab top).
- Further Resources: Cassoday’s Double Arch Walnut River Bridge
SW 60th Street Turkey Creek Bridge
- Where: Spans Turkey Creek on SW 60th Street, south of El Dorado.
- When: 1913.
- Built By: C. C. Jamison.
- Further Resources: C. C. Jamison’s 1913 Turkey Creek Bridge
Diller Bridge
- Where: On NE Price Road where it crosses the Walnut River, south and west of Cassoday.
- When: 1908.
- Built By: C. C. Jamison.
- Further Resources: A Record Stone Arch Bridge Span in Butler County, Kansas: The Diller Bridge
Minos West Ford Bridge
- Where: Spanning Hickory Creek on SE Ellis Road, south of Leon.
- Built By: C. C. Jamison.
- When: 1906.
- Further Resources: C. C. Jamison’s Masterpiece: The Minos West Ford Bridge
Cedar Ford Bridge
- Where: On SE Pickrell Road a few feet north of where it crosses Rock Creek. Though this bridge originally spanned Rock Creek, it now carries the road over an overflow channel. The long south approach of the stone bridge joins the 1917 concrete bridge which spans the actual creek.
- When: 1908.
- Built By: C. C. Jamison.
Henry Creek Bridge
- Where: On NW 110 Street, where the road crosses Henry Creek, north of Potwin.
- When: 1910.
- Built By: C. C. Jamison.
Rock Creek Bridge
- Where: Spanning Rock Creek on Satchell Creek Road, southwest of Latham.
- When: 1905.
- Built By: C. C. Jamison.
Sycamore Springs Bridge
- Where: On NE 140th Street where the road crosses the Walnut River, west of Cassoday.
- When: Construction began in 1899.
- Built By: Abe Matheney.
Fourmile Creek Bridge
- Where: On SW Tawakoni Road where it crosses Fourmile Creek, near Andover.
- When: 1899.
- Built By: Abe Matheney.
Grant Bridge
- Where: Spanning Satchel Creek on NE Grant Road, east of El Dorado Lake.
- When: Completed in 1914.
- Built By: C. C. Jamison.
Liggett Ford Bridge
- Where: Spans Harrison Creek on SE Price Road, east of El Dorado Lake.
- When: 1903.
- Built By: C. C. Jamison.
SW 90th Street Dry Creek Bridge
- Where: Spans Dry Creek on SW 90th street, west of Augusta.
- When: 1899.
- Built By: Walter Sharp.
Hill Bridge
- Where: Spans Dry Creek on SW Diamond Road, west of Augusta.
- When: 1912.
- Built By: O. Markley.
Whitewater River Bridge
- Where: Spans the Whitewater River on NW 160th Road, in Clifford Township.
- When: 1910.
- Built By: C. C. Jamison.
May Branch Whitewater River Bridge
- Where: Spans the May Branch of the Whitewater River on NW 160th Street, in Clifford Township.
- When: 1906.
- Built By: C. C. Jamison.
Brainerd Bridge
- Where: Spans Dry Creek on abandoned section of NW Indianola Road, east of Brainerd. (Private property.)
- When: 1903.
- Built By: C. C. Jamison.
Cave Spring Branch Turkey Creek Bridge
- Where: Spanning Cave Spring Branch of Turkey Creek on SW Walnut Valley Road, south of El Dorado.
- When: 1910.
- Built By: C. C. Jamison.
Walz Ford Bridge
- Where: Just south of the Rock Creek crossing on SE Bluestem Road, in Clay Township. Though the bridge once spanned the creek, it now carries the road over dry land.
- When: Construction began in 1899; bridge was accepted in 1900.
- Built By: Walter Sharp.
- Further Resources: Rediscovering the Walz Ford Bridge, 4 Lesser-Known Stone Bridges of Kansas
SW 70th Street Turkey Creek Bridge
- Where: Spans Turkey Creek on SW 70th Street, near El Dorado.
- When: 1897.
- Built By: Abe Matheney.
Polecat Creek Bridge
- Where: Spans Polecat Creek on SW 230th Street, south of Rose Hill.
- When: 1901.
- Built By: C. C. Jamison.
- Further Resources: The Polecat Creek Bridge
North Branch Turkey Creek Bridge
- Where: Where SE Summit Road spans the north branch of Hickory Creek, southwest of Beaumont.
- When: 1906.
- Built By: Abe Matheney.
Gillion Creek Bridge
- Where: Spans Gillion Creek (Fourmile Creek) on SW Santa Fe Lake Road, south of Potwin.
- When: 1901.
- Built By: Abe Matheney.
NW 115th Street Whitewater River Bridge
- Where: On NW 115th Street where the road crosses the Whitewater River, north of Potwin.
- When: 1907
- Built By: J. H. Higdon and S. R. Poe.
- Further Resources: Another Lesser-Known Stone Arch Bridge: Whitewater River Bridge
