Spring Bridge Tour

May 17, 2009

Tour Director and Guide

Ron Jones & Janis Ford

Lead vehicle cellphone 614 579-0936

10:00 Meet at the McDonalds in Pickerington, 1091 Hill Rd N, Pickerington, OH 43147.

10:10 Depart, (Meet group at first stop if you are running late!)

Turn RIGHT (East) onto SR-256 [W Columbus St]

LEFT to stay on SR-256 [E Columbus St]

Turn RIGHT (South) onto Lockville Rd

Turn LEFT (East) onto Covered Bridge Ln

10:16 Arrive at 35-23-19 Zeller-Smith

Bridge is a 79', 1906, MKP (looked like Queenpost to us), over Sycamore Creek, Built by J.W. Buchanan. Moved to park in 1986.

10:36 Leave covered bridge after 20 minutes

Turn RIGHT (West) onto Covered Bridge Ln

Turn LEFT (South) onto Lockville Rd

Road name changes to CR-20 [Pickerington Rd]

Turn RIGHT (South-West) into Lockville Park

10:44 Arrive at Hartman II 35-23-38

Hartman II, 48', 1888, Queenpost, by William Funk. Moved to Lockville Park in 1967 to span the old Ohio & Erie canal bed. It originally spanned Raccoon Creek at Wheeling Road. Lockville was the site of seven locks along the Ohio-Erie Canal. 3 sets of intact locks from O & E canal w/towpath & basin remain in this park.

11:09 Leave Hartman CB after 25 minutes

Turn RIGHT (South-East) onto CR-20 [Pickerington Rd]

Turn LEFT (East) onto CR-39 [Lithopolis Rd NW]

Turn RIGHT (West) onto CR-41 [Rockmill Rd NW]

Turn LEFT on the old Rockmill Rd

11:16 Arrive at 35-23-48 Rock Mill

37', 1901, queenpost, Hocking River, The last bridge built by Jacob "Blue Jeans" Brandt. Rock Mill (1824) is Ohio's oldest and largest gristmill on the upper falls of the Hocking River. Mill is 6 Stories w/2 below grade level. Powered by 26 ft. overshot water wheel with a mill race cut through solid sandstone more than 30 ft. long. Visitors are cautioned to watch their step since it could

result in a fall of more than 40 ft. onto the rocks below

12:01 Depart Rock Mill (45 minutes)

RIGHT (East) onto CR-39 [Lithopolis Rd NW]

Turn LEFT (North) onto Collins Rd NW, then immediately turn RIGHT (East) onto US-33 [Columbus Lancaster Rd NW]

Lunch break in Lancaster. Texas Roadhouse on your left is the 1^st restaurant we see in Lancaster; next: Subway, Steak ‘N Shake, Frisch’s, White Castle & Taco Bell, Quiznos & Burger King, KFC, Arbys & finally McDonalds where the lead car will stop.

There is lots of congestion on US-33. If you don’t eat at McD’s. you may want to rejoin the group at the Roley school house CB in the fairgrounds at 1:03 PM.

Lancaster history: After the Indians were defeated at the Battle of the Fallen Timbers in 1794 & the Treaty of Greenville was signed in 1796, settlement in OH became legal & relatively safe. Col. Ebenezer Zane of Wheeling knew the interior of OH would be settled quickly. He wanted to acquire some choice pieces of land in the hopes of selling it at a handsome profit when the time was right. He petitioned congress in 1795 to grant him a contract to open a road through Ohio from Wheeling to Limestone, KY, a distance of 266 miles. Zane’s Trace, the first important road in Ohio, was blazed by 1797. In payment, he requested three square mile tracts of land to be located at the crossings of the Muskingum, the Hocking, & the Scioto Rivers. By the fall of 1800, he & his sons began to lay out a town and sell lots. The early settlers were predominately German from the area of Lancaster PA.

1:00 PM. Lunch over. From McDonalds

Turn RIGHT (South) onto SR-33[N High St]

Turn LEFT (East) onto E Fair Ave

Turn LEFT (North) at second light into fairgrounds

1:03 Arrive at 35-23-49 Roley School House at fairgrounds.

49', 1899, MKP Built by J.W. Buchanan to span O&E canal just S of Baltimore. In 1914, Buchanan moved bridge to Roley Rd spanning Paw Paw Creek. Moved to fairgrounds 1972. The bridge may be moved to site of old grandstand, still at fairgrounds. The fairground is located at the foot of Mt. Pleasant. On the right is the 80’ round cattle barn, built in 1906 by J.E. Hedges. He soaked boards in the creek until they could be bent, and then nailed them onto the frame. Originally had wood roof, galvanized metal added in 1934. Wings added in 1937.

1:23 Depart fairgrounds (20 min)

Turn LEFT (East) onto E Fair Ave

Turn LEFT (North) onto Arbor Valley Dr

1:26 Arrive at 35-23-25 McCleery CB

52', (originally 97') 1864, MKP over Fetters Run. 1st major bridge contract for "Blue Jeans" Brandt, spanned Walnut Ck. In 1983, James Walter moved a section of bridge to his property. Rebuilt & moved here 5/2006. Its timbers are American Chestnut, rare in OH where most CBs were white oak or yellow poplar.

1:46 Depart bridge (20 min)

Follow Arbor Valley Dr NORTH, stay on as it turns left (West)

Turn RIGHT (North) onto SR-37 [Granville Pike]

Turn RIGHT (East) onto College Ave

Turn RIGHT (South) into parking lot

1:50 Arrive on OU campus to see 35-23-10 (John Bright #2) and John Bright #1

John Bright #2 is a 75' CB built in 1881, Inverted Bowstring and Burr Arch over Fetters Run. Arch added at later date. Moved here in 1988. Originally spanned Poplar Ck on Bish Rd in area known as Bright Settlement. Built by August Borneman, a Prussian immigrant. John Bright #1 is a one of a kind 90' Iron  suspension bridge, 1884, moved here in 1989. It was originally 2 mi. NE of Carroll on Havensport Rd over Poplar Ck.

2:20 Depart campus (30 minutes)

Turn LEFT (West) onto College Ave

Turn RIGHT (North) onto SR-37 [Granville Pike]

Turn RIGHT (East) onto CR-31 [Coonpath Rd NE]

Turn RIGHT (West) onto US-22 [Cincinnati Zanesville Rd NE]

Turn LEFT (South) into Fairfield Union HS. Stay left to go around the building. Drive through gate and park in the gravel lot.

2:32 Arrive at high school 35-23-33 R.F. Baker

66', 1871, MKP over pond. Built by James Arnold. Originally spanned Little Rush Ck NE of Rushville. Exterior wooden braces are unusual. Moved here in 1981 due to construction of Rush Ck Reservoir.

3:02 Depart (30 minutes) high school turning LEFT onto US-22

3:11 Arrive at McDonalds for snack and restroom break!

3:26 Depart McDonalds & turn left on S Ewing Dr

Turn RIGHT (West) onto Sugar Grove Rd SE

Turn LEFT (South) onto Ford St

Cross US 33

Road name changes to Old Logan Rd

Cross Stump Hollow Rd

Turn RIGHT into Allly Park

3:35 Arrive at Alley Park for 35-23-13 George Hutchins

62', 1904, MKP Built by J.W. Buchanan over Clear Creek SE of Amanda. Dismantled & stored before being Rebuilt 2000 here over Lake Loretta

4:05 Depart Alley Park (30 minutes)

Exit park and Turn LEFT (North) onto CR-86 [Old Logan Rd SE]

Bear LEFT (West) onto Stump Hollow Rd SE

Turn LEFT (South) onto SR-793 [Bis Rd SW]

Turn RIGHT (West) onto Mill Rd SW

Turn LEFT (South-West) onto CR-55 [Hamburg Rd SW]

Bear LEFT (South) onto Hopewell Church Rd SW

Turn LEFT (East) at stop onto Meister Rd.

4:20 Arrive at Arney Run Park & 35-23-43 Mink Hollow

51', 1887, MKP over Arney Run Longest name of any covered bridge in the USA (The Mink Hollow Covered Bridge in Oil Mill Hollow over Arney Run near Borcher's Mill). On original abutments. Built by Jacob Brandt. Borchers Mill was nearby that converted flax seed into linseed oil. Truss unique to OH. Has Central X brace instead of central KP.

4:40 Leave Arney Run Park (20 minutes)

Continue south on Meister Rd

Turn LEFT at T onto Hopewell Church Rd SW

Turn LEFT (East) onto CR-69 [Clearcreek Rd SW]

Turn RIGHT past bridge on McDonald Rd and  RIGHT into parking lot

4:44 Arrive at 35-23-16 Johnston

98', 1887, Howe. Over Clear Creek on original abutments. Built by August Borneman

5:04 Depart (20 min)

exit parking lot to right on McDonald

Turn RIGHT onto Clearport Rd

Turn LEFT onto Julian Rd to park and walk to bridges

5:08 Arrive at remote parking site for 35-23-15 Hannaway

86', 1904, MKP, Over Clear Creek. Unique covered bridge in that there is a canopy, (window) on only one side. On original abutments. Built by James Buchanan, 1881. Recently restored. Impressive because of the angle it crosses the creek

5:30 Depart Hannaway

Turn RIGHT (North) onto CR-24 [Clearport Rd SW]

Turn LEFT (West) onto CR-69 [Amanda Clearport Rd SW]

Bear RIGHT (West) onto CR-69 [Amanda Clearport Rd]

Bear RIGHT (North) onto SR-159 [Chillicothe Lancaster Rd]

Turn LEFT (West) onto CR-55 [Hamburg Rd]

Road name changes to (E) Main St

Road name changes to CR-16 [Amanda Northern Rd]

Keep STRAIGHT onto CR-16 [Amanda Northern Rd SW]

Keep STRAIGHT onto CR-16 [Amanda Northern Rd NW]

Turn LEFT (West) onto CR-41 [Marcy Rd NW]

Turn RIGHT (North) onto SR-674

Turn LEFT (West) onto Local road(s) to enter Slate Run Park

6:05 Arrive in Slate Run park 35-65-16 Blackburn or Wessner

60', 1885, MKP over ditch. Originally in Muskingum county over Brannon's Fk near Young Hickory. Restrooms available.

6:45 Depart Slate Run park (40 min)

Turn LEFT (East) onto Local road(s)

Bear LEFT (South-East) onto Local road(s)

Turn LEFT (North) onto SR-674

Keep STRAIGHT onto SR-674 [Canal Winchester Rd S]

Keep STRAIGHT onto Winchester Southern Rd

Road name changes to Washington St

Turn RIGHT (South) onto Ashbrook Rd

6:55 Arrive at remote parking on Ashbrook Rd. for 35-25-03 Park on right as we enter the neighborhood

Bergstresser/Dietz/Ashbrook, 1887, 134', by Columbus Bridge Co for $2,690. Reuben Partridge was an officer of the CBC, so they used the Partridge truss. Over Walnut Ck. Daniel Bergstresser owned farm just east. Canal Winchester founded 1811. From 1831 to 1902, the Ohio & Erie Canal went through what is today downtown.

     Depart bridge at your leisure. Thanks for coming. Follow Washington St. north toward US-33 & head home!