A little bit about covered bridges:
Why cover a bridge? Covered bridges were originally built with a roof to
protect the only type of material folks had to use to make them in the early
and mid-1800's-wood. Wooden trusses and wooden flooring can last nearly five
times longer when protected from rain and snow. Roofs helped slow down this
decay. There were also added bonuses to covering a bridge-horses tend to shy
from high places and the covered sides kept them from seeing what lay below.
Covered bridges were also known as "kissing bridges" and were a social
gathering place for young couples wishing some privacy from prying eyes.
Ohio Covered
Bridges in Vinton County-It's like
taking a step back in time, the moment you drive beneath the
peak of a covered bridge. Your tires make the soft exchange from
asphalt to worn wood and for a moment, the walls hide from your
eyes a hundred years of power lines, telephone poles and metal
highway signs branded with weight limits and county road
markers. Quite likely, the minute or two it takes to drive
through a covered bridge will be the only time during your ride
you won't be surrounded by the sights and sounds of the last
century of modernization.
So sit back
and enjoy. You can step back in time through five covered
bridges in Vinton County. Some covered bridges can be driven
through, and others are only a parking spot and walk-through
away. Some roadways will take you through small towns with paved
streets and others through thick forests with nothing more than
gravel side roads. But all are a fascinating way to experience
both the past and the present within the natural beauty of
Vinton County.
A kingpost forms the truss in the center
two panels.
A large arch was used to strengthen the
existing truss. Many of Ohio’s bridges were stiffened in this way.
Built in 1874 over Raccoon Creek, this
unique structure measures 174 feet long and 14 feet wide. Some experts
believe that it is the only bridge of its design still standing in the
United States. Structurally, the bridge is three spans with the camber
foot in an arch and a combination of Burr Arch, King Post and Whipple.
The original price tag for the structure was $1928.25.
Directions for
Ponn Covered Bridge:
From McArthur, take State Route 93 South
to State Route 160 in Hamden. Turn left on East State Route
160 and follow to Wilkesville. Turn right on County Road 8
which is across from the village square and school yard. Go
approximately 2 1/2 miles until you see a farmhouse on your
right, the gravel road which is Township Road 7 is right
after the farm. Turn Right on Township Road 7. Travel
approximately 3/4 mile where the road makes a Y, turning
left on Township Road 4. The bridge is about 1 1/4 miles on
the left. It is closed to road traffic but there is parking
in front of the bridge.
Arbaugh Covered
Bridge
Date Built:
1871
Name:
Arbaugh Bridge. Also known as Aikens, Eakins Mill, McLaughlin Bridge, Geer's Mill
Bridge.
Length: 111'
Architect, builder, or engineer:
Gilman & Ward Co.
Spanning Body of Water:
Raccoon Creek
National Register Structure Number:
#76001539 (3/16/1976)
Location:
N.E. Radcliff at Arbaugh on County
Road 38 North over Raccoon Creek, Vinton Twp sec 10 off Ohio
Route 32, 3.2m N.E. junction of State Route 160 or 2.8m.
Mound Hill Road, Arbaugh
Truss Type:
Multiple
Kingpost + Arch (MKP/A)
A kingpost forms the
truss in the center two panels.
The multiple form is the simplest and the most common type in
Ohio.
The Arbaugh Covered Bridge is the oldest of Vinton
County's remaining five covered bridges and spans Raccoon Creek. When the
118 foot long structure was built in 1871, it cost $800.00.
Directions to Arbaugh Covered Bridge:
From the Ponn Covered Bridge, return to
State Route 32 (Appalachian Highway) and make a right on to
State Route 32.
You will note that County Road 43B will
intersect State Route 32 twice on the right. The third
intersection of County Road 43B will occur on the left. This
is the road you will want to take to get to Arbaugh Covered
Bridge. Make a left on County Road 43B. Travel approximately
3/4 mile.
Mt. Olive
Covered Bridge
Date Built: 1875
Name:
Mt. Olive. Also called Grandstaff Covered Bridge.
Length: 48'
Spanning
Body of Water: Middle Branch Salt Creek
National Register Structure Number: #76001538
Location:
1 mile NE of Allensville on Mt. Olive Road,
Allensville
Architect, builder, or engineer:
George W.Pilcher
Truss Type:
Queenpost (Q)
The Queenpost
is a three panel truss used for short spans and was devised as an
extension of the basic kingpost by placing a horizontal member in the
center panel.
Mount Olive Bridge was build by Civil
War veteran George Washington Pilcher. It spans Middle Fork Salt Creek
and is closed to traffic.
Directions to
Mt. Olive Covered Bridge:
From the Ponn Covered Bridge, return to
State Route 32 (Appalachian Highway). Make a right on State
Route 32, returning to State Route 160. Make a right on to
State Route 160 heading back toward Hamden. Make a right on
State Route 324 toward Dundas.
In Dundas, make a right on to State Route
93 North. At State Route 50 in McArthur, turn left toward
Allensville. In Allensville, turn north on to County Road
18. Travel approximately 1 1/2 miles and the bridge is on
the right.
Bay Covered Bridge
Date Built: 1876
Name: Bay Bridge. Also known
as Tinker Bridge
National Register Structure Number:
N/A
Length:
63'
Spanning Body of Water:
Pond at Fairgrounds
Location:
1.5 miles from McArthur on St. Rt. 93. Vinton County Fairgrounds-moved from original site in 1967 near Lake Rupert.
A kingpost forms the truss in
the center two panels.
The Bay Covered Bridge was
constructed over Little Raccoon Creek in 1876 near the
present man-made Lake Rupert. In 1967, it was transported to
the Vinton County Fairgrounds.
Directions
to Bay Covered Bridge:
From the Ponn Covered Bridge, return to State
Route 50 and make a right, heading back into McArthur. At State
Route 93, make a left going north. The Bay Bridge is on the
Vinton County Fairgrounds which is 1 1/2 miles north of
McArthur.
Cox Covered Bridge
Date Built:
1884
Name:
Cox Covered Bridge
Length: 40'
National Register Structure Number: N/A
Location: 9 miles north of McArthur, immediately off
State Route 93 North
and just south of State Route 56 and State Route 93 intersection.
Architect, builder, or engineer:
Truss Type:
Queenpost (Q) The Queenpost
is a three panel truss used for short spans and was devised as an
extension of the basic kingpost by placing a horizontal member in the
center panel.
Cox Covered Bridge
spans Brushy Fork Creek and was built in 1884. Cars can no longer drive
through the bridge.
Directions to Cox Covered Bridge:
From the Fairgrounds, turn left so you are heading north on
State Route 93. Cox Bridge is located approximately 9 miles
north of McArthur immediately off State Route 93 on Woodgeard
Road.
Vinton County. We're
just off the beaten path from wherever you're coming from or from wherever
you're going. For every taste, we have an adventure waiting for you-lodging,
dining, shopping and the great outdoors of Vinton County.
Information on covered
bridge structure and truss diagrams provided with the help of
Unique lodging, covered bridges and miles of parks
and forests make Vinton County an extra special place to visit. Once a huge part
of the iron producing industry, the only remaining reflections of this past are
a handful of iron furnace remnants, an allegedly haunted train tunnel and a few
ghost towns nearly hidden beneath the tall grass. Instead of urban sprawl of the
mid-1800's, the region has transformed itself over the last 150 years into a
wonderland of outdoor recreation. There are over 70 miles of public trails for
hiking, horseback riding and backpacking. There are beaches, gift shops, small
towns and covered bridges. It's a place just off the beaten path of both time
and highway. It's Vinton County, Ohio.
