McColly Covered Bridge
Encyclopedia
The McColly Covered Bridge is a historic wooden covered bridge
in western Logan County
, Ohio
, United States
. Located in Washington Township
near the community of Bloom Center, it is one of two remaining covered bridges in Logan County. It carries County Road 13 (formerly called the "Covered Bridge Pike") over the Great Miami River
, approximately 5 miles (8 km) south of its source at Indian Lake
.
The bridge was built in 1876 by the Anderson Green Company of Sidney, Ohio
at a cost of $3,103 and named for nearby landowner Nicholas McColly. Although Anderson Green built many other bridges statewide, including another bridge in southwestern Logan County, it is the only remaining bridge built by the company in any location. It is approximately 142 feet (43.3 m) long, with a clearance of 16 feet (4.9 m) and a total width of 20 feet (6.1 m).
In 1974, the McColly Bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places
for its significance in Ohio's history. At that time, it was one of only eighteen remaining Howe truss bridges in Ohio. Although the nomination assessed its condition at "good," by the 1990s, the number of Howe truss bridges nearly fell to seventeen, as the McColly Bridge had deteriorated to the point that an engineering survey in 1996 pronounced it to be in imminent danger of collapse.
Restorations in 1943 and 1958 involved replacement of floorboards, strengthening of trusses, and raising the bridge to reduce the danger of flooding. Despite these repairs, the county closed the bridge in July 1993 due to structural deterioration from vandalism and recent floods. The 1996 engineering summary identified several serious faults: the bridge had tilted so that its portals
were no longer square, many of the beams had rotted, a collision had damaged the interior, and nearly one-third of the bridge's siding had disappeared. In early 2000, the Amos B. Schwartz Construction Company of Geneva, Indiana
was hired to repair the bridge, and it was reopened on November 14, 2000, ten months and over $690,000 after the commencement of repairs. The Ohio Department of Transportation
and the Federal Highway Administration
provided aid for this project and recognized it as "an outstanding example of preservation, rehabilitation and reuse of a historic bridge."
Covered bridge
A covered bridge is a bridge with enclosed sides and a roof, often accommodating only a single lane of traffic. Most covered bridges are wooden; some newer ones are concrete or metal with glass sides...
in western Logan County
Logan County, Ohio
Logan County is a county in the state of Ohio, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 45,858. The county seat is Bellefontaine. The county is named for Benjamin Logan, who fought Native Americans in the area....
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Located in Washington Township
Washington Township, Logan County, Ohio
Washington Township is one of the seventeen townships of Logan County, Ohio, United States. The 2000 census found 3,945 people in the township.-Geography:Located in the western part of the county, it borders the following townships:...
near the community of Bloom Center, it is one of two remaining covered bridges in Logan County. It carries County Road 13 (formerly called the "Covered Bridge Pike") over the Great Miami River
Great Miami River
The Great Miami River is a tributary of the Ohio River, approximately long, in southwestern Ohio in the United States...
, approximately 5 miles (8 km) south of its source at Indian Lake
Indian Lake (Ohio)
Indian Lake is a reservoir in Logan County, western Ohio, in the United States. It is approximately 20 mi southeast of Lima...
.
The bridge was built in 1876 by the Anderson Green Company of Sidney, Ohio
Sidney, Ohio
Sidney is a city in Shelby County, Ohio, United States. The population was 20,211 at the 2000 census. It is named after English poet Sir Phillip Sidney and is the county seat of Shelby County.Sidney was the recipient of the 1964 All-America City Award...
at a cost of $3,103 and named for nearby landowner Nicholas McColly. Although Anderson Green built many other bridges statewide, including another bridge in southwestern Logan County, it is the only remaining bridge built by the company in any location. It is approximately 142 feet (43.3 m) long, with a clearance of 16 feet (4.9 m) and a total width of 20 feet (6.1 m).
In 1974, the McColly Bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
for its significance in Ohio's history. At that time, it was one of only eighteen remaining Howe truss bridges in Ohio. Although the nomination assessed its condition at "good," by the 1990s, the number of Howe truss bridges nearly fell to seventeen, as the McColly Bridge had deteriorated to the point that an engineering survey in 1996 pronounced it to be in imminent danger of collapse.
Restorations in 1943 and 1958 involved replacement of floorboards, strengthening of trusses, and raising the bridge to reduce the danger of flooding. Despite these repairs, the county closed the bridge in July 1993 due to structural deterioration from vandalism and recent floods. The 1996 engineering summary identified several serious faults: the bridge had tilted so that its portals
Portal (architecture)
Portal is a general term describing an opening in the walls of a building, gate or fortification, and especially a grand entrance to an important structure. Doors, metal gates or portcullis in the opening can be used to control entry or exit. The surface surrounding the opening may be made of...
were no longer square, many of the beams had rotted, a collision had damaged the interior, and nearly one-third of the bridge's siding had disappeared. In early 2000, the Amos B. Schwartz Construction Company of Geneva, Indiana
Geneva, Indiana
Geneva is a town in Wabash Township, Adams County, Indiana, United States. The population was 1,368 at the 2000 census. Geneva is the location of the Limberlost Cabin, the home of writer and naturalist Gene Stratton Porter.-Geography:...
was hired to repair the bridge, and it was reopened on November 14, 2000, ten months and over $690,000 after the commencement of repairs. The Ohio Department of Transportation
Ohio Department of Transportation
The Ohio Department of Transportation is the organization of state government responsible for developing and maintaining all state and federal roadways in the state of Ohio with exception of the Ohio Turnpike. In addition to highways, the department also helps develop public transportation and...
and the Federal Highway Administration
Federal Highway Administration
The Federal Highway Administration is a division of the United States Department of Transportation that specializes in highway transportation. The agency's major activities are grouped into two "programs," the Federal-aid Highway Program and the Federal Lands Highway Program...
provided aid for this project and recognized it as "an outstanding example of preservation, rehabilitation and reuse of a historic bridge."
Further reading
- Allen, Richard S. Covered Bridges of the Middle West. BrattleboroBrattleboro, VermontBrattleboro, originally Brattleborough, is a town in Windham County, Vermont, United States, located in the southeast corner of the state, along the state line with New Hampshire. The population was 12,046 at the 2010 census...
: Stephen Greene, 1970. - Ketcham, Bryan E. Covered Bridges on the Byways of Ohio. OxfordOxford, OhioOxford is a city in northwestern Butler County, Ohio, United States, in the southwestern portion of the state. It lies in Oxford Township, originally called the College Township. The population was 21,943 at the 2000 census. This college town was founded as a home for Miami University. Oxford...
: Oxford, 1969.