The Pond Creek Bridge

Between 1871 and 1889, numerous entries were made in Bullitt County Court order books regarding the erection and maintenance of a bridge over Pond Creek, the dividing stream between Bullitt and Jefferson Counties. We have transcribed these entries below for research purposes. Note that some names were difficult to read and may be incorrectly spelled.

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Bullitt County Order Book J, Page 274
17 Jul 1871

Road from Vaughn Bridge to Pond Creek
On motion of A. P. Steele and Hamilton Stibbins the court appoints James Caswell, Robert Hardesty and William R. Quick viewers to view a proposed change in the above named road. The change proposed begins at a point on said road at or near Norris' house on Steele's farm on Bullitt side of Pond Creek, running from thence to the new bridge. C. Herps is directed to accompany the viewers and return a diagram of the roads and the courses and distances of the proposed change.

Said viewers will view the ground along which the road is proposed to be run and report in favor of which road they prefer, the old or new, describe the route by metes and bounds and courses and distances, and report the conveniences and inconveniences which will result, as well to individuals as to the public from altering said road, and report the names of the owners and tenants of the land over which the alteration is proposed to run, and they will report at the next term of this court, and the 9th day of August 1871 is fixed and agreed upon to meet on the ground and proceed with the view. James Caswell and William R. Quick were duly sworn as required by law. The sheriff is ordered to notify the commissioners.

Bullitt County Order Book J, Page 286
21 Aug 1871

Road from Vaughn's Bridge to Pond Creek; motion for change of road
This day came the commissioners and surveyor and filed their report herein which is laid over. It is ordered that summons issue against S. Applegate, tenant or owner of the land over which the road is proposed to run to show cause &c.

Bullitt County Order Book J, Page 293
18 Sep 1871

Road from Vaughn's Bridge to Pond Creek proposed.
Stacy Applegate and A. P. Steel personally appeared in open court and released and relinquished the right of way through and over their lands as laid down and requested by the commissioners and surveyors, the usual width of county roads without charge to the county, and this application is continued until the next term of this court.

Bullitt County Order Book K, Page 309
21 May 1877

It is ordered that James W. Ridgway be and he is hereby appointed a commissioner for the purpose of viewing Pond Creek and selecting a site for the erection of a bridge across said creek, and he is directed to meet and confer with the commissioner appointed by the Jefferson County Court for the same purpose, and they wil view the site proposed at Steel's ford, and may view other sites and report in favor of that which will be the least expensive, have due regard to the convenience of the traveling public and then will make report to court.

Bullitt County Order Book K, Page 318
18 Jun 1877

Pond Creek Bridge matter
This day came J. W. Ridgway, commissioner herein, and filed his report, which report is confirmed as to the necessity of erecting the bridge, and the Brawner foundation site where the abutments are now situated is adopted as the cheapest and most available site for erecting said bridge. It is further ordered that James W. Ridgway be and is hereby appointed commissioner to confer with a like commissioner to be appointed by the Jefferson County Court upon plans and specifications for said bridge, and the probable costs of same. They are authorized to ascertain by any means they may see proper the least amount that will erect said bridge and make report to this court at the next term thereof.

Bullitt County Order Book K, Page 327
16 Jul 1877

Present: Hon. W. Carpenter, Judge; W. H. Ellaby, John N. Crenshaw, C. C. Weller, James M. Carpenter, R. Mumford, and James Caswell, justices.

Pond Creek Bridge
It is ordered that $600 be appropriated to be paid out of the county levy of Bullitt County for the purpose of erecting a bridge across Pond Creek at the Brawner foundation site, to be levied at the November Court of Claims 1877; and J. W. Ridgway, the commissioner herein, is directed to report plans and specifications for erecting said bridge, and also to report any bids that may be offered and the amount of said bids if any are made.

W. Carpenter, County Judge, is authorized to receive bids and accept or reject same as he may think proper, looking to the interest of Bullitt and Jefferson Counties in the matter.

This day A. P. Steele appeared in open court and relinquished the right of way over his land for the public road running to the bridge proposed to be built across Pond Creek at the Brawner foundation site.

Ordered that court adjourn. W. Carpenter

Bullitt County Order Book K, Pages 344-5
17 Sep 1877

On motion of James W. Ridgway, it is ordered that John T. Bridges, Charles Lee, and Felix Harris be and they are hereby appointed commissioners to view and examine Pond Creek Bridge and report whether the same is safe or unsafe for crossing, and if the same is unsafe to condemn said bridge and post notices to that effect on said bridge and at other places in the neighborhood of same, and then will make report on the first day of the next October term of this court. They will meet on the 28 Sept 1877 and view same.

Bullitt County Order Book K, Page 355
15 Oct 1877

C. C. Lee and Felix Harris, commissioners appointed by this court to view and report the condition of Pond Creek Bridge, this day filed their report which is as follows:

"We the undersigned having been appointed by the Bullitt County Court at its September Term 1877 commissioners to view Pond Creek Bridge and examine and report as to its condition, whether safe or unsafe for crossing, and after being duly sworn make the following report. We met at said bridge on Friday, the 28th day of September 1877, and after making a thorough examination of same found it to ber in a very unsafe and dangerous condition for crossing, and we posted written notices to that effect on said bridge and at other places in the neighborhood thereof, all of which we respectfully submit to the court." (signed) C. C. Lee, Felix Harris.

It is therefore ordered by the court that said bridge be and it is hereby condemned and persons crossing same do it at their own risk.

Bullitt County Order Book K, Page 363
19 Nov 1877

Pond Creek Bridge matter.
It is ordered that James W. Ridgway be appointed commissioner on behalf Bullitt County to contract for the building of a bridge across said creek at the place heretofore established as a site, and he will report to court on the matter.

Bullitt County Order Book K, Page 380
21 Jan 1878

Pond Creek Bridge matter.
It is ordered that the county surveyor Casper Herps meet with J. W. Ridgway, the commissioner heretofore appointed in this matter, and locate and survey the site for the erection of a bridge across Pond Creek at the Brawner foundation site, and report to court.

Bullitt County Order Book K, Page 391
18 Feb 1878

Pond Creek Bridge matter.
In addition to the commissioner J. W. Ridgway heretofore appointed by this court on behalf of Bullitt County, it is ordered that Thomas J. Ramsey and James Horine be also appointed on behalf of Bullitt County to meet and confer with the commissioners appointed by the Jefferson County Court in selecting a site to build a bridge across said creek, and to assist in any matter that may come before said commissioners.

Bullitt County Order Book K, Page 407
20 May 1878

Pond Creek Bridge matter.
This day came the commissioners appointed on behalf of Bullitt County and filed their report herein, which report shows the selection of the Brawner foundation site for the erection of a bridge across said creek and this cause is continued.

Bullitt County Order Book K, Page 414
17 Jun 1878

Pond Creek Bridge matter.
This day came Casper Herps, surveyor of Bullitt County, and filed his report herein and this cause is continued.

Bullitt County Order Book K, Page 465
18 Nov 1878

It is ordered that a tax of 5% upon each one hundred dollars worth of taxable property in Bullitt County be levied for the purpose of paying for the erection of a bridge across Pond Creek to be collected by the sheriff of Bullitt County as other revenue tax is collected, the amount of property to be ascertained from the assessor's book to be returned for the year 1879, and said tax to be collected for said year.

Bullitt County Order Book K, Page 471
21 Dec 1878
Bullitt County Court Special Term

It appearing that the necessity exists for the immediate action of the in the matter of erecting a bridge across Pond Creek, a dividing stream between Bullitt and Jefferson Counties, a Special Term is this day called for that purpose. Present: Hon. W. Carpenter, Judge.

It appearing that it is advisable to erect a bridge across Pond Crek, a stream dividing Bullitt and Jefferson Counties, it is therefore ordered that James Horine be and he is appointed a commissioner on behalf of Bullitt County, who is directed to meet at the site on the Applegate route, a like commissioner of Jefferson County and agree on a plan for erecting same and contract for the erection thereof, and will make report to court in regard to the matter.

Bullitt County Order Book K, Page 479
20 Jan 1879

At a court of claims held for the County of Bullitt at the courthouse in Shepherdsville on Monday, the 20th day of January 1879. Present: Hon. W. Carpenter, Judge; W. H. Ellaby, J. C. Dent, James M. Carpenter, C. C. Weller, R. Mumford, J. N. Crenshaw and James Caswell, Justices of the Peace (quorum present).

It appearing that it is advisable to erect a bridge across Pond Crek, a stream dividing Bullitt and Jefferson Counties, it is therefore ordered that James Horine be and he is appointed a commissioner on behalf of Bullitt County, who is directed to meet at the site on the Applegate route, a like commissioner of Jefferson County and agree on a plan for erecting same and contract for the erection thereof, and will make report to court in regard to the matter.

Bullitt County Order Book K, Pages 548-9
18 Nov 1879

Pond Creek Bridge matter - Steele Route
On motion of F. P. Straus, County Attorney, C. B. Davis, J. M. Carpenter and James Y. Pope are appointed a committee to examine the stone work done on the Pond Creek bridge and to report at the January Term of this court as to the kind and nature of the stone used in said work, and the character of the work.

Bullitt County Order Book L, Page 5
19 Jan 1880

Present: Hon. W. Carpenter, Judge; J. C. Dent, W. H. Ellaby, J. N. Crenshaw, O. H. Bolton, James M. Carpenter, W. M. Cundiff, James Caswell, and A. F. Brooks, Justices of the Peace.

Pond Creek Bridge matter - Steele Route
This day came the committee appointed at the November Term of this court, viz. C. B. Davis, James M. Carpenter and James Y. Pope, and filed their report which was read to and confirmed by the court, and said committee is now discharged.

Bullitt County Order Book L, Page 149
17 Oct 1881

Pond Creek Bridge matter.
It appearing to the satisfaction of the court that it is necessary for the traveling public to erect a new bridge across Pond Creek, it being a stream dividing the Counties of Bullitt and Jefferson.

It is therefore ordered that F. P. Straus be and is hereby appointed a commissioner on behalf of Bullitt County to meet a like commissioner to be appointed for Jefferson County at the place on the public road where the old bridge now stands, and in conjunction with the said commissioner of Jefferson County agree on a place for said bridge, and to contact for the erection of same. Jefferson County is hereby requested to appoint a commissioner to meet the commissioner of Bullitt County at the place aforesaid and for the purposes aforesaid.

Bullitt County Order Book L, Page 203
3 Jul 1882

At a called term of the Bullitt County Court held at the courthouse in Shepherdsville on Monday, July 3, 1882. Present: Hon. James Caswell, Judge; J. C. Dent, W. H. Ellaby, A. F. Brooks, G. K. Johnson, James M. Carpenter, Wm M. Cundiff, O. H. Bolton and J. N. Crenshaw, Justices of the Peace.

In the matter of the Pond Creek Bridge.
This day came F. P. Straus, commissioner, and filed his report as to the plan and contract with H. J. Banes for a bridge between Bullitt and Jefferson Counties over Pond Creek and also a release of Stacy Applegate of the right of way over his land in both of said counties for a public road to said bridge.

It appearing from said report to the satisfaction of the court that it is to the interest of the traveling public that said bridge should be built at the point named in said contract known as the "Applegate Route" and that it cannot be built safely at the point whereon the old bridge stood, therefore it is adjudged that the order heretofore made of date October 17, 1881 in reference to the erection of said bridge be and is hereby modified to the extent tht the point of building said bridge is changed to the said "Applegate route" the point named in said contracct. And the acts and contract of the said F. P. Straus, commissioner, in fixing the location of said bridge and its plan and the contract with H. J. Barris is now adopted, ratified and approved by the court, and it is ordered that said bridge be built at the point named in said contract, the point having been agreed on by both counties through its commissioners.

Ordered this court adjourned. James Caswell.

Bullitt County Order Book L, Page 232
16 Oct 1882

At a regular term of the Bullitt County Court of Claims held at the courthouse in Shepherdsville on Monday, October 15, 1882. Present: Hon. J. F. Smith, County Judge; J. C. Dent, W. H. Ellaby, J. N. Crenshaw, O. H. Bolton, James M. Carpenter, W. M. Cundiff, A. F. Brooks and G. K. Johnson, Justices.

Pond Creek Bridge matter.
This day came F. P. Straus, commissioner Bullitt County, and E. J. Hikes, commissioner Jefferson County, and filed their ..., also came F. P. Straus and filed his separate report which reports are confirmed by the court, and it appearing that a bridge has been erected and completed at the Applegate route and paid for, it is ordered that this cause be filed away.

Bullitt County Order Book L, Page 234
16 Oct 1882

Barns, H. J. - extension built to Pond Creek Bridge - $100.00

Bullitt County Order Book L, Pages 556-7
20 Oct 1885

Bullitt County Court of Claims
Two thousand dollars is hereby appropriated to E. W. Hall, receiver for Bullitt County, to be paid him by the sheriff out of the county levy for 1886, said money is to be held by him until it appears to whom it can be safely paid so as to be credited on the judgment recovered by Jacob Danehauer and Peter Baecker, assignees of W. T. Washer against Bullitt County in the United States Circuit Court, Sixth District, Kentucky, in March 1885, if said judgment must finally be paid. Several garnishees having been served on Bullitt County by persons claiming to be creditors of W. T. Washer who seek to subject said judgment to the payment of their debt, and it not being known to whom said money can safely be paid, E. W. Hall is directed to hold said money until the question between the creditors of Washer and his assignees is litigated and settled as to who is entitled to said money, and when it appears to the satisfaction of the County Judge and County Attorney of Bullitt County to whom said money can be paid so as to be credited on the judgment aforesaid, the will in writing direct the receiver to pay it to the person or persons they so designate and the receiver will follow their directions and report his action to the next term of this court after said payment. The money hereby appropriated is to be used for no other purpose unless otherwise ordered by this court.

Bullitt County Order Book M, Page 166
7 May 1888

At a special term of the Bullitt County Court held at the courthouse in Shepherdsville, Kentucky on the 7th day of May 1888. Present: Hon Wesley Phelps, Judge; Robert Hardesty, J. Q. Hough, A. T. Carrithers, J. V. Crenshaw, Leroy Daniel, J. H. Hoskins and W. M. Cundiff, Justices of the Peace.

It appearing to the satisfaction of the court that it is advisable to erect a bridge across Pond Creek, a dividing stream between Bullitt and Jefferson Counties, it is ordered that J. V. Crenshaw, J. Q. Hough and J. H. Hoskins be and are appointed commissioners on behalf of Bullitt County to meet and confer with three like commissioners to be appointed by the Jefferson County Court, and said Jefferson County is hereby requested to appoint said commissioners whose duty it shall be to meet on Pond Creek on a day to be fixed by them and locate a site for a bridge and report to court.

Bullitt County Order Book M, Page 223
10 Dec 1888

Pond Creek Bridge.
This day came the commissioners appointed by the Bullitt and Jefferson County Courts and filed their joint report herein.

Bullitt County Order Book M, Page 241
21 Jan 1889

C. B. Paulley is appointed commissioner on behalf of Bullitt County to confer with like commissioner to be appointed by the Jefferson County Court to sell or in some way dispose of the bridge over Pond Creek at what is known as the Applegate route.

Bullitt County Order Book M, Page 244
21 Jan 1889

Pond Creek Bridge
Came J. V. Crenshaw &c, commissioners, and filed their report of contract for repairing Pond Creek Bridge which is approved.

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