High Bridge (Des Moines, Ames, Muscatine: building, recreation, train)

[ShearerFamily]

Can anyone tell me what kind of area High Bridge might be. My ancestors lived in that area. They were the John Randolph Shearer Family. I have a picture from a picnic there in the 1890s. Susan Prater Measures

[turdcat]

I have lived about 1/4 mile away from the bridge for about 2 yrs. Its a pretty area for Iowa. A huge tree filled valley. You don't see that much around here.
You can ride an old steam engine over another bridge up river over another high bridge. It's a single track and maybe not as high or long. I think 185 ft. high.

[jreese]

I believe High Bridge was along Highway 415, south of where it intersects with Highway 17 going to Madrid. I used to live in the area. There is a cemetary on a bluff that overlooks the Des Moines river. There is a shooting range there now, but as a teenager, I explored the area finding building foundations and an abandoned coal mine. I'd like to see the picture if you could scan and post it. Here's a link to some information at the Ames Public Library: http://www.amespubliclibrary.org/far...on/Pub4848.htm

[editor]

Have you checked Muscatine? The bridge there used to be called High Bridge and there are/were Shearers in the area.

[old harry]

The Madrid High Bridge that I knew was parallel to st. highway 17 just west of the auto crossing. Your mention of a picnic caused me to recall a lady I was acquainted with talking about taking the trolley for picnics in the 20's. It was on a section of track (for the high bridge was railroad) south of Zook Spur. It's a very deep valley as turdcat said, but I think he's talking about the bridge parallel to st. rd 210. Both bridges are gone except turdcats bridge still has the concrete piers in place.

[ShearerFamily]

Thank you for the responses to High Bridge question. When I can figure out how to enter a photo. I will post the 1897 photo I have of the picnic. Do you know if Madrid has a historical society?

[duster1979]

The Madrid website is www.madridiowa.com. I know there's info on the museums in town, all of which are historical museums.

[crashup84]

I am looking for info on the High Bridge Mine/Reese Brothers Mine in the Madrid area. Any one have any info on this?

[calsac]

I would say check in the town of Madrid. If I recall Madrid had quite abit of mining going on at one time. I would think it would be close to the railroad track that used to go across the Des Moines RIver. Some of this area my be wiped out from the creation of Saylorville Lake. There is remains of the a train bridge near there that is being considered for
re-decking as a recreational trail.