Crossing Big Raccoon Creek, this 281 foot long Burr Arch truss structure was built by J.A. Van Fossen in 1910 with a cut sandstone foundation. It is open to traffic.

After the 1865 Roseville Bridge was burned in 1910, the Parke County Commissioners replaced it with the present covered bridge. Jefferson P. Van Fossen received the contract to build the replacement bridge. The brothers J. P. and J. L. Van Fossen were associated with the county road department, and were involved in constructing four or more Parke County covered bridges and foundations. Witnesses from the construction site claim the on-site foreman was Joseph J. Daniels. (J.J. Daniels built the 1865 covered bridge, and was 84 at the time the 1910 bridge was built.)

The portal opening is the familiar "Daniels Arch".

Through the years photographs and postcards show the bridge painted red and brown. The portals have been red, brown, white, and knocked away. The transition from the J.J. Daniels arch to the present portal may have been assisted by the engraved sign boards being mounted too low, leading to the flattened arch on the latest repairs.

Another picture shows the first stone for the 1910 bridge loaded on a horse drawn wagon. Most covered bridges built after 1900 had poured concrete abutments. The new abutments were needed for a new bridge of a different length. Stone abutments are consistent with J.J. Daniels construction while the Van Fossens used poured concrete on their other bridges.

Parke County is the home of the nation's largest Covered Bridge Festival (see http://www.coveredbridges.com). Established in 1821 and named in honor of the first territorial delegate to Congress, Benjamin Parke, this county is located in West Central Indiana and Rockville is the County Seat.

Parke County originally had fifty-seven (57) known covered bridges plus one (1) it shared with Vermillion County to it's west. Today it has thirty (30) remaining.

Points of interest in the County include: Turkey Run State Park, Billie Creek Village, Raccoon Lake Recreation Area, and all of the beautiful Covered Bridges.