Mahned Bridge
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox NRHP
| name = Mahned Bridge
| nrhp_type =
| designated_other1_name = Mississippi Landmark
| designated_other1_link = Mississippi Landmark
| designated_other1_abbr = USMS
| designated_other1_color = #B3A1D7
| designated_other1_number = 111-NAU-5002-NR-ML
| designated_other1_date = April 30, 1996{{#tag:ref|{{cite web|url=https://mdah.state.ms.us/hpres/MSLandmarks.pdf |title=Mississippi Landmarks |date=May 2008 |publisher=Mississippi Department of Archives and History |accessdate=May 14, 2009 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101009033103/https://mdah.state.ms.us/hpres/MSLandmarks.pdf |archivedate=October 9, 2010 }}|name="usms"}}
| designated_other1_num_position = bottom
| image = Mahned Bridge, underside camelback truss.jpg
| caption = Underside of camelback truss in 2014
| nearest_city = New Augusta, Mississippi
| coordinates = {{coord|31|13|37|N|89|5|15|W|display=inline,title}}
| locmapin = Mississippi#USA
| area =
| built = 1903
| builder = Chicago Bridge and Iron Company
| architecture = Camelback & Pratt through truss
| added = November 24, 1997{{NRISref|2009a}}
| mpsub =
| refnum = 97001379
}}
The Mahned Bridge was constructed in 1903 and spans the Leaf River in Perry County, Mississippi. Around 1980, the bridge was removed from service and access was terminated.{{NRHP url|id=97001379|title=Mahned Bridge National Register of Historic Places Registration Form}} Retrieved 2014-11-09 The bridge was declared a Mississippi Landmark in 1996 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1997.
History
The Mahned Bridge was constructed by the Chicago Bridge & Iron Company as a prefabricated, one lane, iron truss structure. Completed in 1903, the bridge was one of the first to span the Leaf River in south Mississippi. The bridge derives its name from the nearby rural community of Mahned.[https://mississippi.hometownlocator.com/ms/perry/mahned.cfm Mahned, Mississippi] Retrieved 2014-11-09
=Description=
Two iron trusses, Camelback and Pratt, comprise the main structure and are positioned on metal caissons filled with concrete. Overall length of the two truss spans is {{convert|335|ft|m}}. The deck was composed of wooden planking {{convert|18|ft|m}} wide, but the deck was removed after the bridge was closed.
=Notoriety=
The remote location of Mahned Bridge, several miles from the small town of New Augusta, made it a favorite gathering spot among college and high school students for star gazing and other activities. In September 1993, the vehicle of Angela Freeman, age 17, was found abandoned at Mahned Bridge. Freeman was missing, and the investigation into her disappearance was never solved.{{Cite web|url=https://charleyproject.org/case/angela-lee-freeman|title=Angela Lee Freeman – The Charley Project|language=en-US|access-date=2019-03-31}}
In May 1995, the north end of Mahned Bridge was determined to be the scene of the abduction and murder of William Hatcher, age 27, and Robbie Bond, age 21.[https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1817&dat=19950521&id=IoMfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=DqYEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2561,6096917 Brothers, cousin held in killings of three people, The Tuscaloosa News (May 21, 1995)] Retrieved 2014-11-09 The suspect in the Hatcher and Bond murders was subsequently convicted.[https://www.wdam.com/story/1179056/kenneth-moody-loses-appeal-in-the-state-supreme-court Kenneth Moody Loses Appeal in the State Supreme Court] Retrieved 2014-11-09
References
{{reflist}}
{{Registered Historic Places}}
Category:Bridges completed in 1903
Category:Road bridges on the National Register of Historic Places in Mississippi
Category:Mississippi Landmarks
Category:National Register of Historic Places in Perry County, Mississippi