This bridge is between Rossville and Willard, Kansas. The Rossville News of September 27, 1901 reported, "A force of men with teams and scrapers are putting the Rossville-Willard boulevard in fine shape. When complete this will be the ?boulest' road in the country." The April 11, 1902 issue reports that the Willard bridge was completed except for final work on the approaches but it can be used. The 1903 flood of the Kaw River washed out the bridge and did considerable damage to the road. It was several years before the road was usable. The bridge was again damaged with the flood of 1951 and rebuilt in 1954. This photograph is provided through a pilot project to host unique cultural heritage materials from local libraries on Kansas Memory and was accomplished by mutual agreement between the Northeast Kansas Library System, the Rossville Community Library, and the Kansas Historical Society.
Kansas Memory
Kansas Historical Society
Willard bridge crossing the Kansas River, Willard, Kansas - 1