Hazen Bridge: A Step Back in Time

Hazen Bridge, also called Newcomb Bridge, offers a glimpse into late 19th-century engineering. Constructed in 1893 by the Seevers Manufacturing Company, the bridge spans the Sangamon River at what was formerly known as White's Ford, a popular crossing point near Mahomet and Shiloh Church. The bridge owes its name to the Hazen family, who owned the adjacent property. The bridge's construction was prompted by the Sangamon River's tendency to flood, sometimes rising nearly ten feet in a single day. Its design features a Pratt through truss main span and unique cast iron or steel column bents supporting the approach spans, a feature that may be the only known example of its kind in the state. The main span stretches 120 feet, with a total structure length of 359 feet and a roadway width of 13.5 feet. In 1994, the Hazen Bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places. Although it was bypassed by a new bridge in the mid-1990s, it remains a testament to a bygone era of central Illinois infrastructure. Today, it serves as a pedestrian bridge, inviting visitors to appreciate its historical and architectural significance.