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Antique Timbers Discovered During Bridge Construction

Last updated on Thursday, September 13, 2007

(TERRE HAUTE) - Crews plan to remove and preserve dozens of hand-cut timbers that once supported a stone culvert as part of the 19th century Wabash and Erie canal near Terre Haute.

Construction workers found the timbers while trying to sink support pilings for a bridge that will be part of a bypass being built southeast of the city.

Some of the timbers are up to 40 feet long. They were used to support a culvert that carried the canal bed over little Honey Creek. They'll be reassembled and put on display near Metamora in Southeastern Indiana.

An architectural historian says the culvert was built around 1850.

Discovery of the timbers has delayed construction of the new bridge, but shouldn't hinder completion of the bypass.

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