Bell Covered Bridge

Bell Covered Bridge
Bell Covered Bridge in Spring 2013
Location Northwest of Barlow in Barlow Township
Nearest city Barlow, Ohio
Coordinates 39°25′39″N 81°40′35″W / 39.42750°N 81.67639°WCoordinates: 39°25′39″N 81°40′35″W / 39.42750°N 81.67639°W
Area Less than 1 acre (0.40 ha)
Built 1888
Architect Ebenezer B. Henderson
Architectural style Multiple Kingpost Truss
Governing body Local
NRHP Reference # 12000836
Added to NRHP October 3, 2012

The Bell Covered Bridge is a historic wooden covered bridge in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Ohio.[1] The bridge is a covered multiple kingpost through-truss design[2] crossing over Falls Creek (Southwest Fork of Wolf Creek) in Washington County. Built in 1888 by Ebenezer B. Henderson, the bridge was originally used for horse-powered transportation and was later modified to allow motorized vehicles to cross the creek. The bridge is still in use today. The bridge was rehabilitated in 1998[3] , and later closed in August 2005 for repair of termite damage, but was reopened to traffic shortly thereafter . Except for the periods of rehabilitation and repair, the bridge has continuously remained open to traffic since it was built.[4] The floor, sides, and trusses of the bridge are constructed of wood and the roof is made of tin. The bridge also features sandstone abutments.[5]

In 2012, the Bell Covered Bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It qualified for inclusion on the Register because of its important historic architecture and its place in the history of Ohio, for it is one of the last few examples of a covered multiple kingpost through-truss design[6] still standing in the state.

References

  1. ↑ Wood, Miriam F. "The Covered Bridges of Ohio, An Atlas and History". Columbus, Ohio: The Old Trail Printing Company, 1993.
  2. ↑
  3. ↑ State of Ohio Department of Transportation Washington County. Barlow Township WAS-TR39-0252 Bell Covered Bridge Project Description and Specifications.
  4. ↑ U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration. Chapter 4
  5. ↑ *Inventory of the County Archives, No. 84. Washington County (Marietta). The Historical Records Survey, Columbus, Ohio, April 1938.
  6. ↑ "Types of Longitudinal Trusses" – Covered Bridge Manual, April 2005 Covered Bridge Trusses

External links