Matsell Bridge

Also known as: Wapsie Bridge, Matt's Bridge
Natsell Park Rd. over Wapsipinicon R., Springville, Iowa

Reportedly haunted, the bridge is a through Plate girder bridge built by the ISHC in 1939, the longest such span in Iowa

Photos

West Elevation Panorama

"The Matsell Bridge is a steel plate girder crossing the Wapsipinicon River two miles north of Viola in eastern Linn County. This structure replaced a substantial earlier bridge consisting of a 100-foot through truss, a 140-foot bowstring truss, a 50-foot pony truss and a 12-foot approach span that the county built between 1870 and 1906.

"This through plate girder replaced the previous assemblage at a considerable savings over a potential two-span through truss." ~Iowa Department of Transportation

Photo taken by J.R. Manning in April 2013

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Map

Coordinates:
+42.13014, -91.38362
42°07'49" N, 91°23'01" W

Quadrangle map:
Prairieburg

Street View

Description

There is a local legend that says a school bus loaded with children, stalled on the bridge and was struck by a semi truck. All the passengers were thrown into the river and perished. Witnesses claim that if you stop in the middle of the bridge, shut off the engine and wait, the spirits will push your vehicle across the bridge. Reports of disembodied footsteps and voices in the woods have also been made.

Skeptics tell us the bridge is on a slight incline, and if you stop your vehicle in the middle and put it in neutral, gravity will pull your car down the incline.

You be the judge.

National Register information

Status: Posted to the National Register of Historic Places on May 15, 1998
Reference number: 98000534
Architectural style: Other architectural type; continuous plate through gir
Area of significance: Engineering
Level of significance: State
Evaluation criteria: C - Design/Construction
Property type: Structure
Historic function: Road-related
Current function: Road-related
Period of significance: 1925-1949
Significant years: 1938; 1939

Update Log

August 22, 2014: Photo imported by Dave King
April 7, 2013: Updated by J.R. Manning: Added to "Haunted" category
April 6, 2013: Updated by J.R. Manning: Added overview and photographs
April 6, 2013: New photos from J.R. Manning

Sources

J.R. Manning - Lugnuts969 [at] gmail [dot] com
Dave King
National Register database - Reference number 98000534 (Search for documents)