Let's Go Bridging!
How fortunate we at American Antiquities are be
headquartered in Springfield, OH, an area so rich in history! Right here
in our area of the state there are several covered bridges within less
than 40 mi. of each other.
The
first we can drive to is near Yellow Springs in Glen Helen Nature
Preserve. From Yellow Springs we go southeast on County Road 27 about 1/2
half a mile. On the right we see the 60 ft. Cemetery Road Bridge. It was
built in 1840 and originally stood at about one mile east of New
Burlington, Ohio ( near Cincinnati). In 1979 it was moved to Glen Helen,
and now spans Yellow Springs Creek, a tributary of the Little Miami River.
Cemetery Bridge is open only to foot traffic. The bridge has a tin roof,
gray weathered siding, crosswise floor planking, and is an excellent
example of a Howe truss.
Traveling
further south on Route 68, about one mile before we get to Xenia, we can
turn left onto Brush Row Road (T-17), go about two miles and then turn
left on Stevenson Rd. Soon we come upon Stevenson Road Bridge. It spans
Massie Creek, another tributary of the Little Miami River. This 95 ft.
bridge was built in 1873 using a Smith truss. Its floor planking laid
lengthwise. The bridge is a single span, rests on cut stone abutments and
has a steel pier on one creek bank for added support. Stevenson Road
Bridge is open to local traffic.
If
we travel northeast of Xenia on State Route 42 about five miles, turn left
onto Charlton Mill Road (T-29) and go one mile, we come upon Charlton Mill
Road Bridge crossing Massies Creek. This 120 foot bridge was built using a
Howe truss. It is a single span bridge that rests on cut stone abutments.
It has a red tin roof, plank siding, and the floorboards are layed
crosswise with additional floor planks interfaced on top running
lengthwise in the center. The original bridge was replaced with a
replicated covered bridge using new materials The replicated new Charlton
Mill Bridge is open to local traffic.
Still
another bridge can be found by driving east on State Route 35 out of Xenia
about six miles, turning right onto Ballard Road and driving one more
mile. The Ballard Road Bridge spans the north branch of Caesar Creek. It
is an 80 ft single span bridge built with a Howe truss. It has a red tin
roof, a multicolored siding, and the floor planking is laid lengthwise.
The bridge rests on cut stone abutments. The date of construction and is
unknown
Now
we're heading south of Xenia on State Route 42. When we arrive in Spring
Valley, we turn left onto Spring Valley/Paintersville Road (CR 75), travel
5 1/2 miles, and turn right onto Engle Mill Road. At about the one mile
mark on Engle Mill Road, we find a bridge. It is the longest one we've
seen, spanning Anderson Fork 145 ft. The Engle Mill Road bridge has a tin
roof, weathered plank siding with traces of red paint around the portals.
It is one of the 13 bridges in Ohio that are examples of Smith trusses,
and rests on stone abutments. Its floor planking is the laid lengthwise.
It has been bypassed with a new bridge for its preservation.
Well, that's our trip. We are tired, but it'll only
take a little while to get back home. Let's do this again sometime. HAPPY
bridging! |