Black Squirrel Creek Bridge

The rumor that prisoners lived in cells under the bridge is true. My grandfather who lived in Amo, Colorado (a ghost town that use to be located at the corner of present day Curtis Rd. and Highway 94) told me the story many times as we passed over the bridge on the way to Calhan. As a young man he was a coal miner working some of the areas mines and did odd construction jobs as well. He told me that he did some sort of project work either on the bridge or near it and remembered seeing the chain gang that built it and the cells that were built directly beneath it to house the prisoners. The bridge is located on Highway 24 between the towns of Falcon and Peyton. Not sure if the cells are still there, it was rumored that they had to be torn out because kids were playing in them, but my grandfather did stop once when I was about 8 or 9 years old and showed them to me. It sounds like they are still there, it's nice to see that history still counts for something.

I would be very interested in any history you may have on this bridge. It is near our home and is very unique. There are what appear to be jail cells on both ends under the structure. They are large rooms with concrete walls and one small barred window on each side.Towns people rumor that it was built by prisoners who used to be left in these cells at the end of the day rather than transporting them all back to town. Any info would be great!

Thanks,

Tara