Hayden Bridge in Springfield, Oregon For Sale- Open House Planned for April 1st.

Photo by Richard Doody taken in 1992.

.

1882 Whipple Through Truss Bridge with Phoenix Columns Restored by Workin Bridges in 2019

SPRINGFIELD, OREGON- Applications are being taken to purchase a key gem that neither the county nor the city wants. And an open house to showcase the structure is scheduled to take place on April 1st.

No joke, folks. This is serious business.

The Hayden Railroad Bridge was built by Clark & Reeves as well as the Phoenixville Bridge Company, both located in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania. It was first installed over Bear River at Corrine, Utah in 1882 to serve the Transcontinental Railroad. After four years, the bridge was dismantled and later transported to Springfield, Oregon, where it was re-erected over the MacKenzie River at present-day Marcola Road just on the outskirts of the city. The bridge served local rail traffic from 1901 until its abandonment in 1987. Workin Bridges, based in Holt, Michigan later purchased the structure in 2018 and restored it to a pedestrian crossing. It has been in use since 2019. The Hayden Bridge won the 2019 Bridgehunter Awards in the category Best Example of a Restored Historic Bridge, edging even the second place finisher Coalbrookdale Cast Iron Bridge in England.

The Hayden Bridge after its restoration in 2019. Photo taken by Michael Goff in 2020.

.

Despite the success in restoring the historic bridge, Workin Bridges has put the historic bridge up for sale. The reason behind that has to do with the lack of will to own the bridge. In a statement by Julie Bowers:

No one from the city or county wants to own their own history. The new mayor of Springfield, Sean Van Gorden, told me directly that it would be different if the bridge were in downtown Springfield. But Springfield is spread out into very specific sections for commerce, and this sculpture already exists as the bridge, and it should belong to those in that area that claim a Springfield address, though they may live in Lane County. Lane County has proven difficult to work with – we were unable to get on their agenda in the entire time we’ve owned this historic structure in Lane County.

.

The land will be given with the bridge because of Lane County’s lack of will to create a legal lot, meaning the owner must have a local address upon ownership of the bridge. There are some exceptions to the rule and all inquiries must be made with the contact person involved with the sale of the bridge. According to Bowers, “Lane County would not create an eligible “Legal Lot” with land owned by NSRGA in 2021. Why they want Dead Lots is beyond us.” This means the owner will have the responsibility of the bridge and the land on both ends of the bridge, trail included.

The Hayden Bridge after its restoration in 2019. Photo taken by Michael Goff in 2020.

.

There will be an open house for the historic bridge on Saturday, April 1st, from 12 noon until 6:00pm at the site of the bridge. Entertainment will be provided by David Gans, Craig Wright of Cast of Clowns and The Jerryatrics. Parking is limited at the bridge, yet one can find possibilities at the boat landing on Hayden Bridge Road, as well as along Marcola Road and Old Mohawk Road.

Information on the purchase of the bridge and property can be made by contacting Chewie Burgess at 541.221.6408

.

The Hayden Bridge features a pin-connected Whipple through truss design with ornamental portal and knee bracings. The builder’s plaque is on the top portion of the portal. The bridge has a total length of 224 feet. The bridge is elgible for listing onthe National Register of Historic Places and has been documented by HABS/HAER. All information on the bridge can be found via bridgehunter.com, which can be accessed here.

Workin Bridge is part of the North Skunk River Greenbelt Association (NSGRA), based in Grinnell, Iowa.

.