The bridges of Fayette village
Main.St, Westfield, Creamery, footbridges, Butments, First Cut
Westfield Township, Fayette County, Iowa
Emphasis is on Main.St; note/pics are generally in chronological order.

In 1862, the first Fayette wooden bridge was constructed.
The early bridges were wooden timber flat-based or truss type

The wooden bridges were replaced by two iron-truss bridges after 1870.

In 1918, a one-span cement bridge replaced the 1870s two iron span bridges.

The 1918 bridge was replaced in 1988.

Drop down menu: (this is a long collection of notes, pics, maps)
...1850s>1870...First Fayette.Co bridges, were flat planks and wooden truss.
...1862...The first Fayette Main.St bridge, wooden truss.
.....Sheep down Main.St, early sheep herding.
...1870s>1918...Double iron truss bridge at Fayette; 1st iron bridge 1870 at East Auburn.
...1874...Rails came 1874, Abutment Bridge, 1st Cut bridged.
...1878...A flooding year on the Volga.
...1901...New iron bridge at Westfield/Klocks.Island.
...1900+/-...Three swinging footbridges: E.Water.St, Klocks Island, Big Rock.
...1907...Creamery Bridge built at the east end of Water.St.
...1908...Another flooding year in 1908.
...1870s>1918...The Iron Spans at Fayette.
...1915+...Major Fayette improvements; bridge, water/sewage system, paved streets.
...1890+...Fayette area maps at end of 1800s.
...1900+...Fayette area maps just before 19teens improvements.
...1918...New concrete bridge at Fayette.
...1920s/30s...Talk of Hwy150 & Hwy93.
...1930s+...Fayette from the air, 1930>1940+.
...1933...New concrete bridge at Klocks Island.
...1938...Creamery Bridge abandoned.
...1947...Record flash flooding in 1947 (until 1999 flooding).
...1962...Hwy150 before the 1962 Fayette bypass, map.
...1962+...Fayette after the 1962 bypass, before the 1988 Main.St bridge, maps.
...1988...The 1918 Fayette bridge was replaced in 1988.
...1989...The bridges at Klocks Island were replaced in 1989.

Page Chronology: 2013Sep22, project organization initially started and shelved numerous times; 2023April, project revisited; 2024Feb, once again restarted but stalled; 2024Dec, bridge notes/pics finally at a stage for initially uploading.

...1850...The 'white-tide' into Fayette.Co.IA started in 1849/1850.
......Westfield village began in 1950; Fayette village did not exist until 1855.
......The first wooden bridge in the area was near the Westfield Mill in the mid 1850s.
...1850s/1860s, saw an increased building of wooden truss bridges.
...1862...The first wooden bridge at the north end of Main.St in Fayette.IA.
......Some more area timeline notes: https://www.iowaz.info/surname/hurd.htm

...In the early years of Fayette County, fords were utilized to cross streams, with many river fords continuing to me utilized until well into the 1900s in areas without bridges or until damaged bridges were repaired. Bridges were often damaged or washed away by high water and during 'ice-out.' The early bridges were wooden flat-based and truss type.

...1858June07...West.Union.IA paper: Heavy rain and flooding on the Volga. The continued heavy rains have caused an unusual high flood in the Volga River. The Bridge at Westfield (ghost village, today's west end of Water.St, in Fayette) http://www.iowaz.info/fayette/westfieldmill.htm

....and Richard Earle's mill dam at Albany (ghost village 3+mi NE of Fayette) http://www.iowaz.info/surname/earle.htm on the Volga, John E. Wiley's saw mill dam on Otter Creek (in Illyria.Twp, N of Wadena), and the Earl's mill dam at West Auburn (4mi NW of West.Union) on the Little Turkey, have been swept away. http://www.iowaz.info/surname/belknap.htm

...1859June20...West.Union.IA paper: The bridge over the Turkey River at Auburn.IA fell with a crash on Monday. Heavily loaded wagons had been crossing it daily and teams had frequently trotted over it without shaking it down. Fortunately it fell at a time when nothing was on it. The timber was somewhat decayed. The citizens of Auburn have already finished a foot bridge across the river. Steps will be immediately taken to rebuild the Auburn bridge.

...1861Oct21...Fayette.Co Pioneer: The Committee (J.B. Kinsbury, E. Demott, Wm. Morras) on the Fayette Bridge reported, after advertising for and receiving sealed proposals, the contract was awarded to I. Leply and B.f. Smith, at $450 (to build a wooden bridge).
.....Note: The late1850s>>early1860s was a time of major, initial road/trail and bridge building in Fayette.Co.IA. The first generation bridges were initially native timbers and planks. Some bridges planned: Eldorado, Oran, Elgin, Waucoma, Crane Creek (~7mi NW of West.Union), Twin Bridges on the Volga between Harlan & Center Twp (twin bridges area), at the south end of Long Grove (Maynard), Brush Creek (Arlington), Main.St Fayette, Clermont, Eden (~12mi NW of West.Union).

1862Jun02...The first Fayette bridge, at the north end of Main.St, a wooden truss. However, the first wooden bridge (before Fayette platted) in the area was near the Westfield Mill (Klocks Island area).

.....From 'Chats with Old Timers; by O.W. Stevenson 1940+/Fayette.IA paper....In the minutes for the meeting of the Fayette County Supervisors on June 2, 1862, (Main.St bridge/Fayette) it was reported that the bridge across the Volga at the north end of Main.St, Fayette.IA had just been completed.

.....In very old deeds for the Westfield mill property http://www.iowaz.info/fayette/westfieldmill.htm (the mill was just northeast of the 2000s entrance to Klock's Island) there is reference to a point near the south end of the mill of a bridge that crossed the Volga river. This was where the Lovers' Lane road that comes down "VanSyckle" Hill on the east side of Westfield and goes north to the "Lynch" place, where the house recently burned.
...Note: This Westfield village bridge noted in 'Chats' would have been just on the west side of the 2000s, Hwy 150 by-pass bridge. The Westfield wooden bridge would have predated the 1862 Fayette bridge at the north end of Main.St. Westfield village was platted about 1851, several years before Fayette in 1856, so likely the first Volga bridge near Fayette was in the 1850s built by locals at Westfield and not a County project. bz/2013

...1862June23...Fayette.Co Pioneer: The Committee (J.B. Kinsbury, Wm Morras, Thomas Douglas, E.Demott) on the Fayette Bridge reported, the Fayette Bridge has been built and finished as per contract; and the committee accepted the work on 1862Mar05. The bridge appears to be a substantial structure and to answer the purpose for which it was constructed.

After the white tide started in 1850+, and several decades following, sheep/hogs & wheat were major crops before cattle/dairy & corn became primary.

...1919June26...Fayette.IA paper...
...Early days recalled by Dr. Daniel M. Parker (M.E. Minister in Fayette, brother of Dr. Charles C. Parker) as he sees wool coming to Fayette in automobiles.
....Wool Came To Town On Backs of Sheep: Tuesday, 2800lb of wool were moved into Fayette, representing ownership of 155 persons, crossing over our splendid new (1918, Main.St) concrete bridge over the Volga. In reminiscence, once when wool was being brought across an earlier bridge, a wood structure, on the backs of sheep on which it had grown. The vibration caused the bridge to fall, and the timbers that lodged in the Volga made fine vantage for fisherman such as Ed Howe and John Noble.
......There were days just after the Civil War when flocks of sheep had the right of way on Main.St, raising a dust to make the merchants curse their day, bearing on their shorn bodies the divines stamped with red paint to indicate the ownership---P&L (Parker & Lakin), H.S. (Hiram Sweet), R.N. (Robert Noble), R.B. (Royal Barnard). These names did not exhaust the list for many farmers tried speculation in sheep and wool.
......Wm. Bunnell, Walter Wrench Hunt, John Johnson were among those who herded sheep for Parker & Lakin on the prairie near the farm of Joseph Grannis (just south of Fayette). Regularly, morning and evening, to and fro, went the shepherds with their flocks and helpful dogs over the wooden bridge, through Main.St (going south), from the premises now occupied by Fred Hoyt (house/farmstead across the Volga, NE of Water/Main intersection, now gone after the 1999 flooding, today's(2000s) Big Rock road cut the property in half), where in heavy timber the level ground just north of his house were the sheep sheds, and where earlier P.D. Gardner and Hiram Sweet had gathered 2500 sheep, some of which found watery graves.
......In later days, a man named Robinson. 1500 sheep herded for a time south of Fayette, with Charles Cain and Tom Willerton attendants. The gathering of many vehicles at the depot Tues, chiefly autos, was a picturesque sight, but hardly to be compared with that of Dr. Charles C. Parker, W.B. Lakin and Henry Childs driving 400 sheep down College Hill from Independence, in which place they had been bought by train from northern Ohio. Long-wooled Morinos they were.
......The building in which is Dr. R.A. McLean's office was once used as a place to store wool in Westfield (area/village to the east of Klocks Island), having been a place of general merchandise previously, and then moved by Silas Lamb to become the Sherman House (hotel, was on the SE corner of Main/Water). To see the aggregation of wool again, awakens the wish the the old grist mill in Westfield could have been continued as a woolen mill, into which it had once been converted by Henry Klock. http://www.iowaz.info/fayette/westfieldmill.htm

...1869Dec03...West.Union.IA paper: The iron bridge has arrived at East Auburn (the first iron bridge in Fayette.Co.IA). It weighs 7 tons and is a slender looking concern, but will probably prove substantial enough and meet expectations. The Bridge Committe is paying $25 to remove the old bridge, even when offered that sum for it as it stood for fuse in other localities.

1872+...New iron bridge spans at Fayette (was utilized until the concrete 1918 bridge)

Two iron spans of the 1870s bridge in the 1890s (larger pic of each span farther down page).

...1872Apr12...West.Union.IA paper: County bridge appropriations---To build new Fayette bridge, $394; To remove of Fayette bridge, $10. Note: This would be the first Fayette iron truss bridge. Iron bridges were being built in the county starting in 1870, the first being over the Turkey River at East Auburn.

...1872Sept13...West.Union.IA paper: County bridge appropriations---To repair foundation and approaches to Fayette bridge, $66. Note: Until the 1918 bridge (concrete), the foundations/abutments were quarried native limestone and slaked lime mortar.

...1873Apr18...West.Union.IA paper: County bridge appropriations---To repair Fayette bridge, $6; to repair Westfield bridge, $17.38.

...1875Oct15...West.Union.IA paper: The new iron bridge at Lima is completed. It is a span of 100ft.

1874...Rails came to Fayette from the south.
.....The Lover's Lane Bridge was needed over the '1st Cut' just west of the RR Depot that extended the tracks northward,
.....and the Abutment RR bridge over the Volga, a mile SW of the Depot.

...1878Jul01...1878Hist of Fayette.Co.IA...Heaviest rain storms since 1850 when County settlement started. The Volga rose at least 4ft higher than known before. Maynard(Long Grove) flooded, with the river being 5ft above high water mark. Fences swept away; houses near river banks were swept from foundations. The old bridge at Maynard was swept away. The iron bridge at Lima demolished, with the south abutment undermined and crumbled. Hardly a bridge on the Upper Volga remained when the waters subsided. At least 30 bridges were swept away in Fayette.Co.

...1883May22, Fayette.IA paper: When we see scientists and mathematicians shaking the rods and supports of our (Fayette) iron bridges we think they are in pursuit of knowledge at the expense of the county and ought to be taken in charge by the county.

...1886Jul23...West.Union.IA paper: Appropriation made of $1,000 for stone work on the Westfield bridge, materials of other bridges, and men with a pile driver. (The Westfield bridge was wooden truss until the iron bridge of 1901.

...1886Feb10...West.Union.IA paper: The 1870 East Auburn bridge was the first iron bridge built in Fayette.Co (in 1870, at a cost of about $2800). It succumbed to the cold weather last week, and took a tumble into the Turkey river. The frigid weather had broken a number of the stay-bolts so the bridge had not been used for several days before it fell.

...1887Nov05...Fayette.IA paper: The bridge across the Volga will have some additional railing attached next week.

...1888Sept14...West.Union.IA paper: Claims: Lumber for the Fayette bridge, $233.34, W.F. Boyce.

...1890Jun27...West.Union.IA paper: The waters fell upon the drenched area earth and made another flood, seriously crippling the lower Fayette bridge.

...1901Oct24...Fayette.IA paper: New Bridge (iron with wooden plank flooring) for Westfield (Klock's Island area); Ten loads of material for an iron bridge over the (mill) race, in Westfield, have been drawn (brought). The bridge is an old one from near Oelwein, is to be 60ft long and to have foot paths at the sides. It will rest on tubing filled with concrete and will be fuilt (filled) as soon as the tubing arrives, probably not for 2-3 weeks. It has been long needed. https://www.iowaz.info/fayette/westfieldmill.htm

...1901Dec12...Fayette.IA paper: The Westfield bridge is about completed and is probably the most substantial bridge in town/Fayette.

...1904Jul12...Fayette.IA paper: Evidently a new plank floor is planned for the Westfield bridge. A large amount of plank was on the ground the first of the week.

Swinging Bridges
At three locations in the late 1800s/early 1900s.
Klocks Island beach area, east end of Water Street, and just downstream from Big Rock.

...East Water Street Swinging Bridge
...1902Mar06...Fayette.IA paper: Fayette Council Proceedings---The Fayette Street Commissioner will furnish 5 two-inch plank, 16 ft long and 1 fit wide, suitable for a foot-bridge across the Volga River at the Fred Holmes place . Note: This location was near the 2nd Fayette Creamery at the east end of Water Street, close to where the 1909 Creamery Bridge was constructed. There was a footbridge across the Volga River at this location at least by 1882. Before the 1907 Creamery Bridge was constructed the Volga River was forded in this location.

1907...The Creamery Bridge, an iron bridge at the east end of Water.St.

...1907Aug29...Fayette.IA paper: New Bridge near the Creamery; (at the east end of Water.St) Iron arrived last week and the bridge gang began it work Monday. Much to the joy of people who live down the Volga river (Fayette to Albany/Lima), on the other side, as well as many others who have business which takes them across the stream frequently there will soon be a bridge over the Volga, just east of the creamery. The materials arrived Sat., and on Mon., the bridge gang came and went to work at once, getting the stuff on the ground.
....The bridge is the result of a heavily signed petition to the county supervisors some time ago, which was circulated by Chas. Elliott and Grant Dean, who have known for some time that the bridge would be built. M.L. Thomas of Des Moines who is here with his wife, is foreman of the construction crew.
.....The "Creamery Bridge" is to be 135ft long, and will be 12ft above the present water level, thus insuring safety in times of freshets (high water). the iron work is to rest on steel casing filled with concrete, and these will be substantially set on the solid rock in the river bed. The approaches will make an easy connection between the road and the bridge.
....The bridge has long been wanted, and will be a great convenience at some seasons of the year have been practically cut off from all communication with the town of Fayette.

...1907Oct10...Fayette.IA paper: The iron work on the new bridge near the creamery was all in position Sat. night except the guard railings, and is a suspension bridge high up in the air and 135ft in length. It "holds its own," the temporary substructure having been put out of use. They who reside down stream are well pleased with the improvement as well as some who live in town and own land over the river. (Note: Before this bridge, a river ford just on the upstream side of the bridge was the normal river crossing.)
http://www.iowaz.info/fayette/fayettecreamery.htm

...1907Oct17...Fayette.IA paper: The new "Creamery Bridge" is all in, or all up and ready for the work of constructing the approaches, which should be done before bad weather sets in and frozen ground delays operations.

...1908May08...Fayette.IA paper: The Westfield bridge, which has been closed to traffic the last three weeks for repairs, was opened today to the public.

...1908Jul23...Fayette.IA paper: Flooding; It was some old timers belief that the flood of 1902May, was high enough to match anything before or since, yet the recent one was plenty high enough. It rained 5.5" between 7pm & 4am. The north end of the new Creamery Bridge, near the creamery was partially washed out, enough to prevent crossing with a team. It prevented getting several cows to a pasture on the north side of the river, and some were roped and their owners holding one end of the rope while the 'come boss' was grazing on the roadside. http://www.iowaz.info/fayette/fayettecreamery.htm

.....The bridge over the old millrace in Westfield (Klocks Island area) was carried away, and some damage was done up the railroad track so that the north bound passenger train did not get a clearance card till about 1pm. Some stock was drowned and floated down river. The rain was so fierce that it penetrated some of the old roofs in town.

...1908Jul22...West.Union.IA paper: Fayette news; The Walker families had an all day picnic Thur. at Erastus Walker's. They go home that night at 11pm, after the first rain and a short time before the Creamery Bridge approaches went out.

...1908Sep17...Fayette.IA paper: The abutments for the Westfield bridge are being built by Joe Newcomer.

The Iron Spans
From the 1870's, until the 1918 cement bridge,
the Fayette Main.St bridge was 2 iron spans over water channels,
and connected by an elevated roadway over the island land.

...The Main.St Bridge was two iron spans with an elevated connection, all on limestone abutments.
...There were two channels flowing around the 'island' at the forefront of the pic.
...The right/south channel was connected to the north channel just before the 1918 bridge.

z
Nefzger & Marvin at Albany http://www.iowaz.info/surname/nefzger.htm before Hiram Marvin
traded some of his Albany property for lots north of the Fayette bridge and operated a wind/steam mill.

The Jonathan Knight line families were blacksmiths, wagon makers, mill operators, electricity production, hardware business>>>perhaps the most 'valuable' craftsman family of Fayette from the 1850>1950s.

Before the late 19teens in Fayette.IA,
only dirt streets, no water tower/system (wells), no sewage system (outhouses)

Major Fayette Intrastructure Improvements, 1915>>
water system/tower, sewer lines/'plant', paved streets, concrete bridge

1915>1918...Years of Major Fayette improvements.
....Sewage/water system, water tower, concrete bridge, electrical, paving, etc.

...1915Jan31...Fayette.IA paper: (Note: The 1st Fayette water tower construction, near today's/2000s City Hall). A representative of the Des.Moines Bridge & Iron Co. presented a suitable guarantee of the material and workmanship of pump, tank and tower. Contract price of pump, tank and tower, $4500; Concrete in foundation, $25; relief valuve, $25; total $4551.

...1915Nov18...Fayette.IA paper: Mr. Pearse of the Ames College Extension Dept, outlined at the Opera House, the Plans for City Improvement, three items of necessity. 1. A new bridge over the Volga at the north end of Main Street. 2. The sewage question. 3. The paving question.
.....1. The north Main Street Bridge is unsafe and must be replaced. The south Main Street Bridge is in good condition but only a matter of time before needing rebuilt. The two bridges would cost about $12,000. Note: There were two bridges across the Volga at the north end of Main.St.
......One bridge needs erected instead of the present two now in place. The proposition to make one bridge of the two would involve: 1. Removing the dike between the two bridges, the construction of a concrete bridge in place of the south bridge, of considerably greater width than either of those now in use. 2. Building retaining walls leading up to the new single bridge. The walls would be built as to widen the approach to the bridge from the north, thus eliminating the sharp turns leading to the West.Union road and to the Lima road, where there are frequently narrow escapes from collisions. It was suggested the city co-operate with the county and take care of the work exclusive of building the bridge. The estimated total cost is considerably less than the reconstruction of the two present bridges, with the result lasting indefinitely and being much safer.

.....2. Any sewage system installed should be done before paving. Mr. Pearse supplied a map showing some suggested improvement locations/changes.

...1915Nov25...Fayette.IA paper: Tower and Tank Here...The material for the steel water tower (in Fayette) and water tank for the city has been unloaded on the ground near the electric power house. A crew from the Des.Moines Bridge & Iron Co., is expected to begin the work of erecting the tower. The cement pillars for the four tower posts have been in for some time.

...1917Jan11...Fayette.IA paper: The Highway Committee reported on Fayette problems and that work was likely to start on College Hill (old 150 hill going south up to Grandview Cem) in Fayette this spring and a new bridge would be built (over the Volga at the north end of Main.St) as soon as the county bridge fund would warrant.

...1917Apr12, Fayette.IA pape: Freight Train hits hand car. Extra freight encountered by section men early Friday morning between 7.8am as Wm. Frayer and his section crew were rounding the curve just the other side of the Abutment Bridge they came face to face with an extra freight train. Without even time to utter a word of warning they all jumped just in time to save their lives and their gasoline hand car sp[ed on for a few feet until encountered the oncoming engine and was hurled from the track into the air with tools, lunch pails, clothing and hand car flying in every direction. A crowbar thrown from the hand car by the impact struck Frank Thompson and broke both bones in one leg. The train stopped and brought Mr. Thompson back into Fayette, along with the rest of the crew of Lloyd Shafer and Wm. Frayer. One of the brakeman telephoned from a farm house for Dr. Mclean and he was at the Depot when the train arrived. Dr. Walsh from Hawkeye was also called and assisted in setting the fractured leg.

...1918Mar14...Fayette.IA paper: The Fayette Commercial Club Bridge Committee reported that no changes in the proposed new concrete bridge across the Volga (at the north end of Main.St) could be secured at this time as the County Supervisors had other places for every dollar of available bridge money this year.
...1918Mar14...Fayette.IA paper: This being the day (1918Mar05) for opening the bids for construction of a concrete bridge at Fayette, for culvert requirements, for cement and certain road tools. There was but one bid for the concrete bridge at Fayette, by Northern Steel & Concrete Co., of $11,632. This bid being above the county engineers estimate was rejected.

...1918Apr04...Fayette.IA paper: Fayette Council meeting; Contract between Town of Fayette & Fayette County for sidewalk on the new concrete bridge to be constructed across the Volga by Fayette County, and binding the Town of Fayette to pay $150 and furnish the wiring for lights placed on the new bridge was approved and ratified.

...1918Apr25...Fayette.IA paper: Fayette to Have New Bridge; Work on a new concrete bridge over the Volga River at Fayette was started the first of the week. the old bridge on the north bank is being torn out and three 40ft concrete spans will be put in. The present two bridges are 16ft wide, but the new portion will be 24ft wide. Aulden Finch (county engineer) has the work in charge and the work is being done for the county.
......A meeting was held by the Fayette Council with the County Agents to discuss the advisability of the town raising $1,000 to have the new bridge extended and two more 40ft spans added. This would necessitate the changing of the channel and filling in where the south end of the bridge now is. The county will build but three spans at this time unless the town is willing to help. If built, it will take all summer to complete the job.

...1918June20...Fayette.IA paper: Council meeting...Arrangements made for the electric cable to carry the light over the new concrete bridge (to maintain electrical service north of the bridge). Motion for the Fayette to pay the County $400 for extending the concrete bridge and changing the channel. The Clerk was instructed to notify Joseph Marvin he could remove the stone wall from the right of way at the north end of the Main St. bridge, at once, and to notify Mr. Ocker of West Union the bill board at the north end of the bridge must be removed. T. Alderson, Mayor

...1918July25...Fayette.IA paper: Concrete Bridge over Volga nears finish; It is expect work will be practically done by the Harvest Home picnic, August 15th. Work on the fine new concrete bridge over the Volga at the north end of Main St. Fayette, has been pushed along this summer. It now begins to assume its size and shape. The abutments and piers have been in for some time. The cement floor has been put in at the south end. The floor at the north end is well under way, leaving only the middle section. filling in back of the abutments is going on now.
......The course of the river will be changed so the water will run about midway between the two present channels followed for years past, and the old bed under the south bridge will be filled up level with the street.
......The bridge construction has been in the charge of Alden Finch, assistant county engineer, and will be perhaps the finest bridge in the county when completed. The forms for the various parts have been carefully constructed resulting in a smooth, finished appearance of the piers and other work, where appearance counts. The lumber for the forms was out of F.E. Sanders' shop (was located on the north side of Water.St, 2nd structure west of the Main/Water intersection) and fitted with great care. Fayette will be proud of this bridge on one of the automobile highways. If there could be a small park made in the immediate vicinity of the bridge, it would be one of the beauty spots of this part of the county.

...1918Aug29...Fayette.IA paper: County Supervisors meeting, 1918Aug19...Contract with the Town of Fayette for enlarging bridge plans, changing the channel of the Volga and making land fill.

...1918Nov14...Fayette.IA paper: Old Landmark goes into the discard....Even a casual glance down Main.St of Fayette to the northward gives the old resident something of a shock, for the eye misses something. A more searching inspection shows that there is no longer an iron framework visible against the background of the hills beyond. The old iron bridge is gone. Piece by piece it has been disappearing for the past few days, and the parts have been removed to grace some other scene.
......Gradually the fill underneath the old bridge rose across the Volga until it was up to the floor, and then the work of tearing down was begun. A rock wall is being built along the west edge of the embankment, and before long there will be an extension of Main.St connecting it with the new bridge. Absence makes the heart grow fonder or some such thing, it is said, therefore it is likely the old bridge will be remembered with a good deal of fondness that it is going to be absent a good long while. They say, the old bridge has been here for 30, maybe 40 years.

...1919Jan16...Arlington.IA News: The erection of the bridge over the Turkey River at Eldorado will start soon. All cement work was completed before cold weather. Advantage is being taken of the frozed stream to assist in holding the temporary work while placing the steel on the bridge. The County is using the steel frame of the old bridge across the Volga River at Fayette.

...1919Mar20...Fayette.IA paper: Cost of New Fayette Bridge not quite $13,000...County saved nearly $5,000 by using day-laborers in the of erection of the Fayette bridge. Fayette's new concrete bridge cost about $13,000, according to figures furnished F.E. Sanders by the county bridge engineer A.D. Finch, who writes Mr. Sanders as follows:
...... "The original plan of the bridge was for three spans and the contents---approximately 457 cubic yards of concrete, the bid of $17,632 or $25.45/cubic yard. The bridge as it now stands contains 785 cubic.yd, which would make, including inspection, $20,000. From the cost as shown on the report filed, the amount saved by day-labor over contract work is evident. Under usual condition the amount saved the county on this bridge would have been about $5,000, but as it was we were fortunate in finding gravel on the bridge site which added about $2,000 to the amount saved.
......The 100ft old steel span (south span)formerly over the main river channel of the Volga is now giving service over the Turkey river while the north span (of the Fayette bridge) is stored in the county warehouse, to be used later on."
......The new bridge received its initiation into flood conditions last Sunday when the river rose as a result of heavy rain, and showed no indications of defect or weakness.
......The work on the new bridge had commenced 1918Apr18. It is said to be the finest bridge in the county, a lasting monument to the efficiency of Mr. Finch and his corps of builders.
......Items of final expense from the foreman's final cost statement: Superintendence, 1302+hrs=$625; labor=$4819+; F.E. Sanders, form work=$19+; teaming=$579+; insurance for labor & supt=$251+; dining car(deficit)=$160+; total labor cost=$6465+; cement, 1341+bbls=$2,084+; hardware=$164+; depreciation=$350+; lumber=$592+; misc.=$218+; total for materials=$6448+; total cost of structure=$12,913+; total cost of lumber expense=$592+; cost of wrecking north bridge=$67; cost of cutting the new channel and making the fill, not included in the report.

...1919July17...Fayette.IA paper: The new bridge at the north end of Main.St was wired the first of the week for electric lights.

...1927Sep03...Waterloo.IA paper: Surveyors are at work on Hwy 11 (changed in 1941 to Hwy 150), between Oelwein and West.Union, getting the work done preparatory to paving. They will cut off some of the corners and locate quarries to furnish the rock for the concrete base.
.....1927Oct...Fayette town council petitioned/proposed to have No.11 leave Main.St going west on Madison.St to the old Robertson place, then diagonally to the SW through Robertson's woods, to connect with Lovers Lane, to pass over the 1st Cut, past the cemetery and on south (proposal not adopted, it would have missed College Hill & the RR viaduct). Note: The 1927 Hwy11/150 route proposal was the same route used for the 1962, Hwy 150 bypass.

...1931Jan04, Cedar.Rapids paper...Fayette news; A 'program' to improve Klock's Island endorsed by Fayette Community Club to include a tourist camp, playground facilities, and to place greeting signboards at the outskirts of town.
....Nels Louvering, club director talked on the chain store problem, encouraging support of home merchants. http://www.iowaz.info/surname/louvring.htm
....Also discussed, the routing of Hwy 93 through Fayette, and action to remove the central pier in the RR viaduct at the base of College Hill, south of town.

...1932Oct05, West.Union paper...Tentative survey to relocate Hwy93 from Sumner missies both Fayette and Randalia. The tentative route began at Sumner and followed the present route for 6mi to the east on the same straight line to the east boader of Center.Twp. Instead of making the sharp turn at the Frank Davis corner, it would cut diagonally across the field to the point where the 'stone man' stands and then follow the present route past the Henry Hettler farm and on east, but would pass the Catholic Cem, instead of going through Klock Island park at Fayette. By this route the necessity of bridging the Volga River at Klock Island would be avoided. If the new route should be adopted Randalia and Fayette would be bypassed of this primary highway (Hwy93). Note: The route was not adopted.

...1934Jun28...Sumner.IA paper: (Note: in 1932, plans were made to rework and re-route Hwy 93 from west of Tripoli, through Sumner to Hwy 11 (150) in Fayette). Following a number of tentative routes and surveys, the route of Hwy 93 going east from the Frank David corner to Fayette has been decided. Instead of turning north to the "stone man" at the Davis corner, the new road will veer to the SE to cross the 2nd Cut over the railroad, then cross the Volga River over a new bridge to be built in line with Water.St in Fayette. The road will pass across Klock's Island south of where it now lies.
.....Because of the deep fills, cutting through a hill and erection of 2 new bridges , there will be considerable expensive work to be done. The road will be surfaced with crushed rock. The road between Sumner and Fayette is expected to be finished by Thanksgiving.

...1934Aug09...Dubuque.IA paper: Fayette.Co to get $95k for roads from Federal appropriations. The money will be used to grade and bridge 1.6mi of Hwy 93 west of Fayette & to gravel from Fayette to Sumner.

...1936Oct22...West.Union.IA paper: Fayette Scenic Spots, Interesting Fall Walking Tours....You will want to see Big Rock, a collegiate rendezvous since its discovery. To reach it by road is simple, but let us 'cut cross' the hills and go down 'The Steps.' After crossing historic Creamery Bridge, the first hill presents itself with three fences to conquer. Over the first hill 'The Steps' begin, a small indenture between the hills graduating into a streambed where in spring water rushes down to meet the Volga. (Note: this is the steep climb directly down over the Big Rock spring).

...1934Oct18...Sumner.IA paper: Fayette news; Rapid changes occurring for Hwy 93 between the Frank S. Davis corner west of the 2nd Cut, to Water.St in Fayette.
.....The little wooden bridge over the old Westfield 'mill race' at Klocks Island has been torn out and preparations made to erect a new bridge, slightly changing the location. Trees were cut down through the north edge of Klocks Island, and a new road graded through the park. The dirt for the road taken from the river bank to the north. A huge shovel and gang of trucks put the road through in short order. Excavations have been made for the piers for Mill Race bridge, and the new bridge just west, across the river. The Volga River bridge will stand several rods (1rod=16+ft) further up the stream than the present structure.
....Further west, a power shovel has been gnawing through the rocky hill and a battery of trucks, each powered by its caterpillar tractor, has been carrying dirt/rock downward to make the huge fill leading to the new river bridge. The whole 'face of nature' has been rapidly altered. The whole (new) piece of highway from Davis corner, over 2nd Cut, through the hills toward the view of the new bridge will be quite scenic. There has been a constant stream of trucks hauling crushed rock from Fayette to surface several miles toward Sumner, which were graded last year.

...1935Apr02, Creston.IA paper: Fayette news; Ward Construction Co. from Decorah, will complete in May, work on the large steel Hwy 93 bridge spanning the Volga River at the west city limits of Fayette. The bridge, a PWA project, is a continuous 300ft I-beam span. The steel was erected in Jan, with activity stopped until early March. Construction of forms for the bridge floor systems is now being done.

...1936Jun18, Postville.IA paper: The paving of Hwy 93 from Sumner east to the Fayette.Co line was completed.
...1936Nov30, Oelwein.IA paper: Bids to for 2nd course surfacing taken for 15.3mi of Hwy93 from Sumner to Fayette.

NOTE on the map below the Hwy93 route and associated gravel roads out of Fayette before the late 1930s road/bridge work described above:

...1938July14...Fayette.IA paper: A rumor is current about the town that the "Creamery Bridge" at the east end of Water Street is to be removed, and that the road on the other side of the Volga River is to be continued on that side to the west, until it connects with the Lima Road at the end of the Main.St Bridge. Threre are already some objections to this procedure being heard.

...1939May04, Fayette.IA paper: Volga River closed to all fishing. Game Warden James Murphy states the Volga River has been posted and closed to fishing of all kinds from the Abutment (RR) Bridge to Albany, until the 15th of June to protect the bass in the stream.

...1942Sep17...Herbert Iliff fell Tues evening at the old "Creamery" Bridge and broke his left arm above the wrist. The Creamery Bridge is being dismantled, the planks have been torn up, and a foot-path of planks laid. The Iliff boy went up to the approach and tuned to speak to a companion, and not remembering the open space of the structure, fell down the bank. Herbert is the oldest son of Ray Iliff, and is 13yrs (lived on the small farmstead along the Volga at the northwest end of the bridge, the old creamery location).

...1947Jun19Thur...Fayette.IA paper (lengthy article)....Devastating (flash) Flood Hit Fayette Last Friday...It was the worst flood in 70 years of memory by one resident...Homes and farms in path of Volga badly damaged. Effects of flood water along the Volga will be felt by Fayette residents for some time to come. It was Friday, the 13th, 4am in the morning....water was 6ft deep over Klocks Island....water was over Hwy 93 from the end of Water.St to beyond the bridges.
.....The north approach to the north end of the creamery bridge was gouged out nd the NE pier settled so the corner of the bridge is sagging. The bridge was abandoned for vehicle traffic a few years ago.

...1948Mar25...Oelwein.IA paper, Fayette news: Addie R. Stepp is building an all season melon stand, 2+mi north of Fayette on Hwy150. Stepp, who is known for his melons says the stand is built mostly from native timber cut from the Volga River Project and was taken from the river south and east of where the old 'Creamery' Bridge once stood.

...1961May25...West.Union.IA paper: Work progresses on the new (Hwy150 by-pass) bridge across the Volga River on the west edge of Fayette. Workman poured the concrete roadway on the bridge, which will be part of the Hwy 150 by-pass of Fayette (The by-pass was operational by summer of 1962: West of the cemetery, across the old RR cut, through Lover's Lane/Robertson's woods, through old Westfield village plat, across a new Hwy150 bridge, on to West.Union).

...1961Dec07...West.Union.IA paper: Contract to repair Fayette bridge; The firm of Taylor and Isenhower, Hudson, has been awarded contract for $4,579, for repair and renovation work on the bridge over the Volga river in Fayette on Hwy150, according to the State Hwy. Commission. Note: The 1918 bridge, while the Hwy 150 bridge/bypass was being built on the west side of Fayette.

...1982Mar04...West.Union.IA paper: Due to deterioration of the deck on the Hwy 93 bride over the Volga River, the max weight for trucks have been set.

...1982Aug19...West.Union.IA paper: Fayette (Main.St) bridge needs repair, check shows; The Fayette Council accepted and reviewed an inspection report on the Volga River bridge. The report indicated substantial deterioration of the bridge structure.

...1984Mar01...I.D.O.T. to repair Fayette bridge (paper picture): Federal & State aid will provide 80% of the cost of replacement.

...1988Sep15...West.Union.IA paper: Work completed on the (new Main.St) Fayette bridge), Alpha bridge next; The contractor replacing the bridge at the north edge of Fayette will conclude work later tis week with the sealcoat having been poured on Wed.
....1988Nov17...The Fayette council declared the1988 Fayette bridge project officially completed.

...1989Apr26...West.Union.IA paper: IDOt will close Hwy 93 from Fayette to just east of Sumner for the replacing of 6 briges & a box culvert on Hwy93. Note: The bridges at Klock's Island were replaced.