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__NOTOC__ Whites Bridge (alternatively White's Bridge) was a 120-foot (37 m) span Brown truss covered bridge, erected in 1869 in Keene Township, Michigan, United States, near Smyrna on the Flat River. Carrying Whites Bridge Road across the Flat, it was located north of the Fallasburg Bridge and south of Smyrna. It was among the area's best-known 19th century structures.〔 〕 Complete loss of the bridge as the result of arson came on the morning of July 7, 2013. ==History== The present Whites Bridge is the third bridge across the Flat River at or near this location south of Smyrna, which was a crossing point or ford, even before the bridges were built.〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=Whites Bridge page )〕 The "Whites Bridge" and "Whites Crossing" names are taken from the White family, prominent pioneers of the day. The original bridge, built in 1840 by Levi T White and his Sons, was a corduroy bridge made of logs. A second bridge, built about 1856, reportedly at a cost of $250, was destroyed by an ice jam during the spring breakup of 1869. The residents of Smyrna sought a replacement, and sought to pay for it with a deferred payment.〔 The residents contracted with Jared N. Bresee, builder of the Fallasburg Bridge and Joseph H. Walker to build the bridge for a deferred payment of $1000 due in 1870, and $700 due in 1871. The builders used second-hand lumber in an effort to contain costs and finish quickly (the bridge was built in 84 days with only man and animal power.) The townspeople reportedly discovered auger holes in the floor planking and withheld $25 from the first payment.〔 Except for occasional siding and cedar roof shingle replacement, White's Bridge retains its original form and structure.〔 The bridge was listed with the Michigan State Register on February 17, 1965. It was awarded a Michigan Historical Marker (site L0042) on July 2, 1965.〔(MI State Historic Preservation Objects )〕 The bridge was briefly closed in 1995 to allow for repair of the abutments. It was subsequently reopened to automobile traffic.〔 The bridge, with a load limit of 3 tons (2.7 tonnes) in effect, was in use until it incurred major structural damage, presumedly by a motor vehicle, on approximately January 8, 2010. It has since reopened to traffic with the replacement parts easily visible. Although the Ada Covered Bridge may have been built earlier, it was completely replaced due to a fire, and this bridge is arguably〔 the oldest covered bridge still using parts of the original structure in Michigan. On July 7, 2013, the bridge burned down. Police suspect it was an arson. The official cause is under investigation. As of July 23, 2013, it was reported in The Greenville Daily News, that the fire of July 7, was indeed an arson.〔(Whites Bridge destroyed by act of arson )〕 Crime lab tests confirmed the presence of an accelerant. Investigation is ongoing. A group has started to raise funds for rebuilding the historic bridge.〔(determined to rebuild Whites Covered Bridge )〕 On April 16, 2015 the Whites Bridge Historical Society announced that the funds have been secured to rebuild a replica bridge that will be open to traffic in 2016. This funding will include a $275,000 grant from the Michigan Department Of Transportation and $200,000 from private grants and donations. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Whites Bridge」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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