OHIO COVERED BRIDGES (74)

 As you drive along on old country roads, up in the hills and the hollers, and on one lane gravel/dirt roads, you will occasionally see them; the old covered bridges… Nostalgia overwhelms you as you admire the historic constructed bridges of yesteryear and you take a relaxing step back in time from the modern and mostly boring, freeways that crisscross the country. Some of these bridges are still being utilized for local traffic thoroughfare, while others over the past 20-30 years have been bypassed by modern roads and bridges. All the covered bridges on this blog were originally constructed over a hundred years ago, and still sit in their original location. True, most have been partly rebuilt, sometimes with the original lumber, or similar lumber with the original designs. Often, they are partially repairs to just the roof and sidings. Some others have had added structural strengthening to support modern traffic. There are various reasons why the covered bridges were initially built, however one of the main reasons for their existence was the maintenance factor of structural integrity. As was later discovered, covered wooden bridges ultimately averaged ten times the lifespan of uncovered ones. The cover allowed the timbered trusses and braces to season properly and kept the water out of the joints, prolonging their lives by seven to eight times that of an uncovered bridge.  

I do my best to put the most accurate information on these posts; I try to get at least 3 different sources. Occasionally, even that does not always provide me correlated facts due to all sources stating different information. The length of the bridge is mostly where I find the variation. Sometimes the site gives the length based on just the span or arch and does not include the entry way. I have found that the difference is mostly on a couple of feet so I post the average, or the majority of sites with the same distance. The building date is often different as well. Some bridges I have not found the actual building date, even after searching numerous sites-history just simply forgotten or unknown.

What is amazing is to realize that the majority of Pennsylvania's covered bridges are in use everyday. Literally thousands of cars pass through the bridges on any common day.

What is really sad is the terrible hundreds of these bridges have been vandalized or destroyed.. Whether it is graffiti or arson; one wonders why do people feel the need to damage or destroy these historic bridges??
 I do want to mention a type of bibliography, resources that has helped me so much with my research and data collecting.., Wikipedia, Bridgehunter.com, Dale Travis with his numerous state's Covered Bridges List, and James Walsh with his interactive Covered Bridge Maps (Which unfortunately due to extreme service charges, is no longer active). Also, the many other state's internet sites that help me validate other sources information.
Note: to see all of the bridges, as you get to bottom of each page, click on "older posts" on lower right hand side.

STONELICK/PERINTOWN COVERED BRIDGE - OWENSVILLE, OHIO
MULL COVERED BRIDGE - FREEMONT, OHIO
STEVENSON ROAD COVERED BRIDGE - XENIA, OHIIO
PARKER COVERED BRIDGE - UPPER SANDUSKY, OHIO
SWARTZ COVERED BRIDGE - UPPER SANDUSKY, OHIO
HARSHAVILLE COVERED BRIDGE - SEAMAN, OHIO
FOREAKER/WEDDLE COVERED BRIDGE - GRAYSVILLE, OHIO
JOHNSON ROAD/CRABTREE COVERED BRIDGE - JACKSON, OHIO
TEEGARDEN/CENTENNIAL COVERED BRIDGE - LISBON, OHIO

CULBERTSON/WINGET RD. COVERED BRIDGE - MILFORD CENTER, OHIO
BALLARD COVERED BRIDGE - JAMESTOWN, OHIO
HELMICK MILL COVERED BRIDGE - MCCONNELLSVILLE, OHIO
BELL COVERED BRIDGE - BARLOW, OHIO
BLACKWOOD COVERED BRIDGE - SHADE, OHIO

COX COVERED BRIDGE - CREOLA, OHIO
MT. OLIVE COVERED BRIDGE -ALLENSVILLE, OHIO
BYER COVERED BRIDGE - BYER, OHIO
CRABTREE/JOHNSON ROAD COVERED BRIDGE - STOCKDALE, OHIO
OTWAY COVERED BRIDGE - OTWAY, OHIO
BUCKSKIN COVERED BRIDGE - SOUTH SALEM, OHIO
JOHNSON MILL(SALT CREEK) COVERED BRIDGE - NORWICH, OHIO
INDIAN CAMP COVERED BRIDGE - CAMBRIDGE, OHIO
MANCHESTER COVERED BRIDGE - CALDWELL, OHIO
PARRISH COVERED BRIDGE - CALDWELL, OHIO

HARRA COVERED BRIDGE – WATERTOWN, OHIO

ROOT(QUALEY) COVERED BRIDGE – DECATURVILLE, OHIO

HENRY COVERED BRIDGE – BARTLETT, OHIO

SHINN COVERED BRIDGE – WOLF CREEK, OHIO

BARKHURST MILL COVERED BRIDGE – CHESTERHILL, OHIO

ADAMS/SAN TOY COVERED BRIDGE - PORTERSVILLE, OHIO

PALOS COVERED BRIDGE – GLOUSTER, OHIO

KIDWELL COVERED BRIDGE – JACKSONVILLE, OHIO

HANNAWAY COVERED BRIDGE – AMANDA, OHIO

MINK HOLLOW COVERED BRIDGE – AMANDA, OHIO

JACKS HOLLOW COVERED BRIDGE – MT. PERRY, OHIO

PARKS(SOUTH) COVERED BRIDGE – SOMERSET, OHIO

HOPEWELL CHURCH COVERED BRIDGE – GLENFORD, OHIO

JOHNSTON COVERED BRIDGE – AMANDA, OHIO

ROCK MILL COVERED BRIDGE – WESLEY CHAPEL, OHIO

BERGSTESSER(DIETZ) COVERED BRIDGE – CANAL WINCHESTER, OHIO

KIRKER COVERED BRIDGE – WEST UNION, OHIO

HARSHMAN COVERED BRIDGE – EATON, OHIO

BLACK (PUGH’S MILL) COVERED BRIDGE – OXFORD, OHIO

NORTH POLE COVERED BRIDGE – RIPLEY, OHIO

GEORGE MILLER COVERED BRIDGE – RUSSELLVILLE, OHIO

CREEK ROAD COVERED BRIDGE – CONNEAUT, OHIO

MIDDLE ROAD COVERED BRIDGE – CONNEAUT, OHIO

BICKHAM COVERED BRIDGE – RUSSELLS POINT, OHIO

MCCOLLY COVERED BRIDGE – LEWISTOWN, OHIO

GEETINGS COVERED BRIDGE – LEWISBURG, OHIO

CHRISTMAN COVERED BRIDGE – EATON, OHIO

WARNKE COVERED BRIDGE – LEWISBURG, OHIO

SPAIN CREEK COVERED BRIDGE – NORTH LEWISBURG, OHIO

BIGELOW (AXE HANDLE ROAD) COVERED BRIDGE – MILFORD CENTER, OHIO

BROWN COVERED BRIDGE – MT. ORAB, OHIO

MCCAFFERTY COVERED BRIDGE – FAYETTEVILLE, OHIO

NEW HOPE (BETHEL) COVERED BRIDGE – NEW HOPE, OHIO

LYNCHBURG COVERED BRIDGE – LYNCHBURG, OHIO

MARTINSVILLE ROAD COVERED BRIDGE – MARTINSVILLE, OHIO

BRUBAKER ROAD COVERED BRIDGE – GRATIS, OHIO

OLINS (DEWEY) COVERED BRIDGE – ASHTABULA, OHIO

BENETKA ROAD COVERED BRIDGE – KINGSVILLE, OHIO

ROOT ROAD COVERED BRIDGE – KELLOGGSVILLE, OHIIO

SOUTH DENMARK COVERED BRIDGE – JEFFERSON, OHIO

MULLEN (DOYLE) COVERED BRIDGE – JEFFERSON, OHIO

MECHANICSVILLE COVERED BRIDGE – AUSTINBURG, OHIO

HARPERSFIELD COVERED BRIDGE – GENEVA, OHIO

WEST ENGLE MILL ROAD COVERED BRIDGE – SPRING VALLEY, OHIO

ELDEAN COVERED BRIDGE – TROY, OHIO

RIVERDALE ROAD COVERED BRIDGE – ROCK CREEK, OHIO

WARNER HOLLOW COVERED BRIDGE – WINDSOR, OHIO

NEWTON FALLS COVERED BRIDGE – NEWTON FALLS, OHIO

EVERETT ROAD COVERED BRIDGE – PENINSULA, OHIO