How Ohio’s covered bridges can become collapsed bridges
Tony Mirones
SUGAR GROVE, Ohio (WCMH) — Two covered bridges belonging to Fairfield County Parks are being salvaged due to disrepair and weathering.
The May Hummel Bridge and Shade Bridge were added to the county’s covered bridges portfolio in 2015 when the parks department purchased the land where they sat. Initially, the county planned to use them as centerpieces for a new Misty Valley Park, which has yet to open.
Shade Covered Bridge
(Photo provided by the Fairfield County Parks District)
“I was very disappointed,” said William Pierson. “[They] were preserved by my father [40] years ago and have fallen down.”
In the early 80s, William Pierson and Connie Downour’s dad obtained the two bridges to restore them.
“We were all behind him 100 percent. He had the support of his family,” Downour said.
Basically, sons, daughters, nieces, nephews, and siblings were all in Sugar Grove helping their father rebuild these bridges. The bridges became part of the family.
“For 40 years, we had reunions, family picnics, church groups down here,” Downour said. “Lots of memories.”
When they learned the bridges were not going to be revitalized, sadness and disbelief set in on the brother and sister.
Covered Bridges in Use
CANAL WINCHESTER, Ohio (WCMH)–In March. 1887. the Franklin County Commissioners announced the building of a bridge ini Madison Township over Little Walnut Creek at Karmer’s Ford. Area citizens had petitioned for a bridge to transport agricultural products to the canal and railroad. Michael Corbett of Groveport contracted to construct the abutments and the Columbus Bridge Company built the covered bridge for $,2,690. Reuban L. Partridge company Vice President supervised the building using his patented truss system consisting of double and triple truss members constructed of pine and oak.
In the 1950’s the road travelling over the bridge became State Route 674 and in the 1950’s the road was redirected to bypass the covered bridge. in 1990, the county contracted with Abba Lichtenstoin & Associates to evaluate the condition of the bridge. The W.J. Seidensticker Company repaired and restored the Bergstresser bridge using original and new materials. This, the last covered bridge in Franklin county was rededicated September 1, 1991. At this time the ownership of the bridge was transferred to the Village of Canal Winchester. (photo by Tony Mirones)
CANAL WINCHESTER, Ohio (WCMH)–Interior of the Berstresser Dietz covered bridge. (photo by Tony Mirones)
CANAL WINCHESTER, Ohio (WCMH)–The last covered bridge in Franklin County.
CARROLL, Ohio (WCMH)–Hartman #2 Bridge is located at 5895 Pickerington Rd. NW Carroll, OH 43112. It features Queenpost trusses and has a 48’ length. The bridge was moved in 1967 to its current location between Ohio & Erie Canal Locks 11 and 12 South in Lockville Park, the site of the longest series of intact canal locks in the state. (Photo by Tony Mirones)
CARROLL, Ohio (WCMH)–Hartman #2 Bridge is located at 5895 Pickerington Rd. NW and spans a dried up canal in Carroll, OH 43112. This view is from the old locks this stand strong to the south of the bridge.(Photo by Tony Mirones)
CARROLL, Ohio (WCMH)–Hartman #2 Bridge is located at 5895 Pickerington Rd. NW Carroll, OH 43112. It features Queenpost trusses and has a 48’ length. The bridge was moved in 1967 to its current location between Ohio & Erie Canal Locks 11 and 12 South in Lockville Park, the site of the longest series of intact canal locks in the state. (Photo by Tony Mirones)
CARROLL, Ohio (WCMH)–Hartman #2 Bridge is located at 5895 Pickerington Rd. NW Carroll, OH 43112. It features Queenpost trusses and has a 48’ length. The bridge was moved in 1967 to its current location between Ohio & Erie Canal Locks 11 and 12 South in Lockville Park, the site of the longest series of intact canal locks in the state. (Photo by Tony Mirones)
CARROLL, Ohio (WCMH)–Initials carved into the wall of the Hartman #2 Bridge. Whoever J.J. and K.K. are or were, the wonder is if their love lasted. (photo by Tony Mirones)
CARROLL, Ohio (WCMH)–Hartman #2 Bridge is located at 5895 Pickerington Rd. NW Carroll, OH 43112. It features Queenpost trusses and has a 48’ length. The bridge was moved in 1967 to its current location between Ohio & Erie Canal Locks 11 and 12 South in Lockville Park, the site of the longest series of intact canal locks in the state. (Photo by Tony Mirones)
PICKERINGTON, Ohio (WCMH)–Hizey Bridge is located on private property at 12549 Tollgate Rd. in Pickerington, Ohio. People are welcome to enjoy the bridge and take photos. Please respect the owners of the property and DO NOT cross the bridge. (photo by Tony Mirones)
PICKERINGTON, Ohio (WCMH)–The interior view of the Hizey Bridge. (photo by Tony Mirones)
BALTIMORE, Ohio (WCMH)–Stemen House covered bridge was originally 72 feet long and was shortened to 36 feet during
reconstruction because of damage and decay. It’s the only covered bridge in the county that is open to vehicular traffic. (Source VisitFairfieldCounty.org) Photo by Tony Mirones
PICKERINGTON, Ohio (WCMH)–Zeller-Smith Bridge is located at 100 Lockville, Rd. in Pickerington, Ohio. The bridge was moved to Sycamore Creek Park in 1986, it serves as the gateway to the park’s arboretum. During reconstruction, it was changed from a multiple Kingpost with arch truss system to a Queenpost style. (photo by Tony Mirones)
PICKERINGTON, Ohio (WCMH)–Plaquerd showing who made contributions to help resotre the Zeller-Smith covered Bridge. (photo by Tony Mirones)
PICKERINGTON, Ohio (WCMH)–Interior view of the Zeller-Smith covered bridge. (photo by Tony Mirones)
PICKERINGTON, Ohio (WCMH)–The floor of the bridge. (photo by Tony Mirones)
PICKERINGTON, Ohio (WCMH)– Wood deteriorates on the exterior of the Zeller-Smith covered bridge. (photo by Tony Mirones)
PICKERINGTON, Ohio (WCMH)–Zeller-Smith Bridge is located at 100 Lockville, Rd. in Pickerington, Ohio. The bridge was moved to Sycamore Creek Park in 1986, it serves as the gateway to the park’s arboretum. During reconstruction, it was changed from a multiple Kingpost with arch truss system to a Queenpost style. (photo by Tony Mirones)
WEST JEFFERSON, Ohio (WCMH)–This 2012 wooden covered bridge spans over the national and state scenic river Little Darby Creek just west of West Jefferson, Ohio on Taylor Black Rd. (photo by Tony Mirones)
WEST JEFFERSON, Ohio (WCMH)–A car exits the Taylor Blair Rd covered bridge. (photo by Tony Mirones)
Walkway on the west side of the covered bridge.
WEST JEFFERSON, Ohio (WCMH)–A view overlooking Little Darby Creek from the pedestrian walkway on the Taylor Blair Rd. covered bridge. (photo by Tony Mirones)
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In a recent blog post by the parks department, they wrote:
The bad news is Storm Landon hit the area hard last month (February 3-5). Heavy ice and snow inflicted irreparable damage to Shade Covered Bridge. On March 6, it fully collapsed. FCPD staff and members of Fairfield County Board of Park Commissioners discussed several options. A request for sealed bids to remove the structures has been published. It is our hope parts of the bridges will be used elsewhere in Fairfield County.
The county had the most bridges in the state with 17 until these two fell. According to the park district, the money in the budget had to go to other projects already underway.
Specialized skills are needed to properly repair old covered bridges. Structures that are open to the public must meet standards stricter than those on private properties. The cost of renovating a bridge like the Shade to those standards is about half of our annual budget! We were obligated to finish construction of Fetter-Hood Barn and to budget money for a new ADA-compatible playground and the soon-to-be-built permanent restroom at Smeck Park (Spring-Summer 2022). Another commitment was to get Mambourg Park construction underway – an entry road, parking lots, electric and gas services, development of trails, and renovation of the nature center. This year, a picnic shelter will be built there and permanent wayfinding signs for the trails installed. Repairs to Shade and Hummel had to wait.
For Pierson and Downour, they hoped the bridges would be a legacy from their father to the people in Fairfield County. What they are hoping now is that people will at least take a moment and appreciate that what their father accomplished was out of kindness and determination.
Their father documented his journey of restoring the bridges in a book entitled ” If It Falls To The Left, Jump To The Right.” You can read it here:
