13 Off Limit Areas In Jefferson Proving Ground That The General Public Will Never See

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Established in 1941, the Jefferson Proving Ground facility was operational up until 1995. In this video we were given an escort to visit areas generally offlimits to the general public. These sites included the Munier Farmstead from the 1800s, the Big Creek "D" Bridge built in 1920, Collins Ford Bridge built in 1907, Old Timbers Lodge built in 1932, Edwards Ford Stone Arch Bridge built in 1911, Benville Stone Arch Bridge built in 1908, Marble Creek Stone Arch Bridge built in 1905, Jinestown Warren Pony Truss Bridge built in 1896, The Gale Through Truss Bridge built in 1897, Morgan Road Pony Truss Bridge built in 1910, the Oakdale One Room School built in 1869 and the Reyker Cloud Bridge built in 1892.

GPS Location: 38°49'45.0"N 85°22'54.8"W

0:00 Introduction
0:05 Jefferson Proving Ground Friday, November 17, 2017
0:11 Sponsored by: Beaver Creek Nursery Madison, Indiana
4:42 Munier Farmstead Mid 1800S
5:38 Big Creek "D" Bridge 1920
6:40 The Unknown Bridge 1884
7:16 Collins Ford Bridge 1907
8:12 Old Timbers Lodge 1932
11:50 Edwards Ford Stone Arch Bridge 1911
13:18 Benville Stone Arch Bridge 1908
14:26 Marble Creek Stone Arch Bridge 1905
15:59 Jinestown Warren Pony Truss Bridge 1896
16:23 The Gale Through Steel Truss Bridge 1897
16:49 Morgan Road Pony Truss Bridge 1910
17:36 Oakdale School 1869
18:25 Reyker Cloud Bridge 1892

[rrelectric]

Thanks for sharing these scenes. I knew some about the proving grounds. My father's cousin worked there for many years. I had never heard of all the old bridges before. Good to see that part of the country again, my grandfather was from Madison, my grandmother from Seymour.

[JDawghasaTruck]

I grew up across the river in Milton Ky and can remember the window shaking booms! Amazing what that generation went through to win WWII.

[GregoryWingham]

Very interesting video with good commentary. I have driven by here basically all of my life since my grandmother lived in Madison and we visited when I was a child. As an adult, I go to Clifty Falls to camp. The next time I drive by, the Proving Grounds will be even more interesting to me. Peace

[michaelturner]

My Grandfather's family was on the cover of Echoes of Jefferson proving ground book!! I grew up across 421 on Ringwald RD Thanks for the Video! It's a Beautiful area!

[jessegates]

Thanks for this video, very good. My step father got stationed there at Jefferson Proving Grounds after. a tour in Vietnam in 1969 This was paradise for him. I loved the place and went to Madison HS

[daverotroff]

In the late '70's I was boating on Brookville Lake which is about 40 miles NE of Jefferson PG. We were relaxing and floating while drinking a beer. From the north came 2 A-10's at warp speed travelling southbound along the west shore of the lake. They were low enough that they pulled up to clear the Fairfield Causeway that crosses mid-lake then dropped back down heading towards the dam. Impressive to say the least. We figured they were training at jefferson.

[kristiwilkerson]

Used to drive to Old Timbers and hang out with friends in the 70s. What a beautiful and majestic lodge. Good to see they have not destroyed it!
Good video, thank for posting

[meandthemrs]

This is the third channel that I watch that uses that banjo. I never get tired of it.

[alanfan]

It is amazing to see any substantial structure that is not covered in graffiti. The video is worth watching just to see that.

[luciusvorenus]

Grew up south of the Papermill Gate. I remember the aircraft flying over the house, the artillery firings and night-time flare tests.

Great footage of the Stone bridges.

[jeffcarico]

Thanks for posting. I worked at the weather station from 1990 until the base closed in 1995. You actually drove by the weather station at the beginning of the video although the building is kind of plain now with the dome that housed the upper air equipment gone from atop of it.

[dhinds]

My 2nd Great Grandfather had a farm near Marble Corner, which was a village inside JPG. He and his wife's graves were moved when the area was purchased by the government.

[toddtomaszewski]

I lived a couple miles east of there back in the 70s. At the top of China Hill. I remember listening to the artillery rounds all the time.

[pennypincher]

I used to deliver there.
At the gate/guard house, they had a little doe that they would give crackers too!
My first time delivering was near the howitzers firing line. It scared the hell out of me the first time I heard them firing!
During the time the National Air Guard used as a bombing target practice at JPG, those jets flew very low to the ground, maybe 200 foot above it. Scared the hell out of many people driving along highway 62.

[lawrencehubbard]

I used to ride my motorcycle by there once or twice a month. Never knew that you could get in. I would have liked to go back and look around the area.

[resqfreedom]

I removed asbestos from those brick buildings back in the late 90's! That place is Absolutely AMAZING!

[d.aardent]

That Old Timbers lodge is very nice, Ive not ever heard of it. It reminds me of Giant City St.Pk. lodge in Illinois. Why hasnt it been opened to the public as a specific sort of Inn for people to visit? Make that area into a small state park to along with Clifty Falls or call it Old Timbers st. pk. and have the old lodge where people can stay but as a less ritzy version and more spartan and simple. I bet a lot of people would enjoy that.

[nottodd]

I've always felt that the headquarters building there would make a wonderful museum or living history site if restored. It's like a step back into the 1940's at the proving grounds

[Daffmikeron]

Great Video!! I went there a few years back and had a great time. Did have a rough time finding our way back from Reyker Cloud, though. I think the iron truss that you listed as "Unknown" is probably the Kingfisher Crossing bridge. It was not completed when I visited. BridgeHunter states that the bridge is actually a slab using the trusses. Better than scarping them! Keep up the great work and will keep on viewing (Especially the bridge videos!)

[ruthwoytsek]

Nice video, Satolli!! I've always been curious about the other places in JPG. I recall going to Old Timbers as a child and had a book about it.