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Construction began in 1867 and was completed in 1869. It is in original site, but now spans a quiet pool of water rather than the Skunk River. Flooding was a problem, so a new channel was cut in 1973.
The bridge was built for $1,620.00. It is 12 ft. wide and 80 ft. long. The first roof was covered by hand-hewn shakes and it now has cedar shingles. In 1974, it was entered in the National register of Historic Places. It is the oldest covered bridge still standing in Iowa. An adjacent park to the bridge was opened in 1960.
There is an old cemetery next to this bridge. My grandparents 2nd child, Hollis, burned to death at age 4 in 1899, while they were living in Delta. Her dress caught on fire when her Mother went to get some water. My Mother, Nina, born in 1906 was always told this is where Hollis is buried. No cemetery records of it, and I have never found a stone. There are two or three stones without engraving that could possibly be her grave.
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