Let’s return now to my 2007 road trip along US 36 and the Pikes Peak Ocean-to-Ocean Highway in western Indiana.

When I worked for a rock radio station in Terre Haute many years ago, once an hour we read a liner that said, “107-5 ZZQ rocks <insert name of town> with <insert name of band>.” It was supposed to make us sound like a regional station. I knew and had visited many of the towns I named — Farmersburg, Poland, Sullivan, Seelyville, Rosedale, Allendale, Riley, Newport, and good old Toad Hop. I occasionally shouted out to a town I didn’t know, such as Prairieton, Pimento (pronounced Pie-men-to, a caller hastily corrected me), Carbon, Fontanet, and Montezuma. Today was my day to meet Montezuma.

The TIB Guide shows the PP-OO taking some hard corners as it made its way to Montezuma.

US 36 makes a much smoother path through this region today. But given the way the existing side roads fall, I was able to make a guess at the PP-OO’s route, where it’s different from US 36. I drew it in blue on the map below. I didn’t actually drive any of that route, though. You’d think those roads would be obvious as I approached from the west, but I found the curve strangely disorienting.

Windows Live Maps, 2007

As I entered Montezuma, I immediately recognized that US 36 had been rerouted by several feet to the south at some time to replace a bridge. The approach to the old bridge was still there. I find it interesting that the old bridge was lower than the current bridge.

Old US 36 next to current US 36

You can see how the curve into town was made just a little tighter to accommodate the new alignment.

Montezuma, IN

On the other side of US 36 at this cross street was a building proudly proclaiming it was built in 1903. I wouldn’t be surprised if another old brick building did not at one time share its north wall. If so, it might have been demolished to make way for the current US 36 alignment.

Montezuma, IN

Where old US 36 approaches the bridge that is no longer there, the road is concrete, and thus probably dates back to the 1920s or 1930s.

Approach to former US 36 Wabash River bridge

Here’s a 1951 postcard (sourced from Bridgehunter.com) showing both bridges open. The older bridge was built in 1892 and demolished in 1951, and the newer bridge was built in 1949. So these two bridges coexisted for about two years.

Compared to the current bridge, the old bridge looks to be little more than a single lane wide.

US 36 Wabash River bridge

There was no traffic, so I walked out onto the bridge.

US 36 Wabash River bridge

When I lived in Terre Haute, we sometimes said the word “mighty” before Wabash with a nudge and a wink. The only thing mighty about the Wabash is that it’s mighty brown.

US 36 Wabash River bridge

Next: Vermillion County, where US 36 and the PP-OO follow different paths.

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Comments

8 responses to “US 36 and the Pikes Peak Ocean-to-Ocean Highway in Montezuma, Indiana”

  1. J P Avatar

    If I have ever been to Montezuma, I don’t remember it. Is there a Tripoli in Indiana? And does it have shores? I have too many questions this morning.

    I love that postcard showing the two bridges.

    1. Jim Grey Avatar

      There isn’t a Tripoli in Indiana, but you can book a flight to the real Tripoli for just over a thousand dollars. Montezuma has a shore, if you count the riverbank. It will have to do.

  2. brandib1977 Avatar

    Jim, one of my favorite things is when you can give the before and after shots of the roads. Love this.

    1. Jim Grey Avatar

      I always feel fortunate when I stumble upon a “then” photograph of a place I’ve visited!

      1. brandib1977 Avatar

        Fortune, indeed. You should play the lotto when that happens!

  3. TR Avatar
    TR

    If you zoom in enough on satellite via Google Maps, you can still make out the alignment of the old road on the north side of current 36 in Montezuma east of old Crawford Street, between Jefferson and Madison. Going to street view, check out the low wall in front of 321 E. Crawford Street on the NE corner of 36 and Monroe, and the steps that end in the grass (where the old road used to be). Love this forensic stuff!

    1. Jim Grey Avatar

      I love it too! I wish I had more time for it. I’m curious about Madison Street and its big curve. Those don’t happen without a reason. Did it used to follow a railroad? Was it an early alignment of PP-OO/US 36? I hope to find resources someday that answer those questions.

      1. DougD Avatar
        DougD

        Looks like Madison Street is curving to line up with the former B&O railway bed

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