For That Certain Someone You Love

BLYTON - The ad reads: "For sale - Bridge over Spoon River in Deerfield Township beside Route 9."

Such a notice is rather unusual, even in this day when earth-shattering events startle people daily.

At any rate, the Deerfield Township (Fulton County) Board of Auditors and Road Commissioner Sherman Wagner have an old, rust-colored behemoth to be removed, if possible.

Wagner said he does not know when the bridge was erected over Spoon River, but "it's old, I can tell you that," he said. Wagner believes there is a sign on top of the structure, but he is not about to climb up to find out.

For potential buyers, Wagner supplies some statistics, which are rough estimates. Wagner thinks the bridge is about 18-feet wide, about 151 feet long and weighing between 51 and 60 tons. It is a two-lane plank road bridge.

He said the township officials decided to sell it recently because "two men in the township wanted to buy it, so we thought we better put it up for bids." He is uncertain if any bids will actually be received.

In any event, the town board will meet Oct. 30 and will open any bids at that time.
Wagner said the two prospective buyers wanted to junk it. "That would quite a job," Wagner said.

The bridge has not been used for years, and the west approach to it disappeared several years ago when the Spoon River went out of its banks. Yet, in the most recent flood this Spring, the bridge was not damaged.

"It's worthless as far as we're concerned," Wagner explained. He later added the words "eyesore" and "bother" to describe the antique.

Deerfield Township officials are fearful the old 'bridge might fall into the river someday, and then they would be in trouble with state officials.

So, if anybody is in the market for a relic, all they have to do is get in touch with Deerfield Township.

Remember, London Bridge was moved to Arizona as a tourist attraction.

One reminder, though. "The Board of Auditors reserves the right, to reject any or all bids."

by Don Hopper, Staff Writer for the Peoria Journal Star October 5, 1974

Board OKs Bid of $800 for Old Bridge

Blyton - The Deerfield Township Board of Auditors last night recommended that Township Road Commissioner Sherman Wagner accept an $800 bid for an old bridge over Spoon River

The board suggested that Wagner meet with Fulton County Highway Supt. Charles Sandberg to insure that all legal technicalities for the sale are followed.

The high bid, one of three considered, was submitted be three Bushnell men, William J. Paul, his son Betram. and a neighbor, Darrell L. Hoyle, who are starting a salvage business

The elder Paul said he hopes the work of dismantling the bridge, expected to last 1 to 3 weeks, can begin in about a week.

In their bid, the three agreed to dismantle and remove all the bridge — excluding the piling with high water marks —  plus 8 to 10 I-beams.

Paul said his partners intend to keep the I-beams, but make scrap of the rest of the structure. They also told the township board they will furnish liability insurance.

The other bids were submitted by J. P. Rutherford of Smithfield, $250, and Elvin Wheeler of Canton, $500.

The bridge, located about 900 yards from the Route 9 bridge which also spans the river, once served as the main road between Blyton and Bushnell. Sandberg said such bridges were built prior to 1900.

At one time, township officials had considered giving the bridge away.