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Bridge Street, Ross County

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Inventory Number: OH/35-71-06x
County: Ross County
Township: Scioto
Town/Village: Chillicothe
Bridge Name: Bridge Street
Crosses: Scioto River
Truss type: Tied arch (2), Multiple Kingpost (1)
Spans: 3
Length: 300'
Roadway Width:
Built: 1817
Builder: Eli Fox
When Lost: 1886
Cause:
Latitude: N39 20.450
Longitude: W082 58.566
See a map of the area
Topographic map of the area
Directions: Bridge St. at Chillicothe.

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Comments:
2 lane. The bridge was built by private investors in 1817 and eventually became part of the Zanesville to Maysville Turnpike. The original two 150-foot spans were constructed of tied arches with internal kingpost braces. The arches served as the top chord and gave the covered structure a humpback appearance on the ends. Each lane was 12'4" wide; each arch was made of 10 layers of 3" x 10.5" oak planks in long lengths, breaking joints; each arch layer was spiked to the one below it at two foot intervals with 7" spikes; and the 10 layers were bolted together every five feet with 1"x1" square wrought iron bolts. In 1844 the trestle approach on the north end was replaced with a multiple kingpost covered span. The bridge was dismantled down to the trusses in 1886 and the remains were then burned. Per the Chillicothe Gazette, April 28, 1900, "On February 19, 1810, the General Assembly authorized Nathaniel Massie and Humphrey Fullerton to build a bridge across the Scioto river at Chillicothe, where the road from Lancaster to Chillicothe crosses that stream. This was the first mention of the old covered bridge, which, for three-quarters of a century served for all the travel northwardly from this place. For some reason the bridge was not built at that time, and, in 1815, Humphrey Fullerton, as clerk of the county, advertised for bids on contracts for making the bridge, specifying that it must be made like the bridge over the Susquehanna at Philadelphia. It was to be a toll bridge; and the assembly fixed the amount of tolls as follows: Each footman, 6¼ cents; horse and rider, 12½ cents; wagon or four-wheeled cart, drawn by four horses or oxen, including driver, 50 cents; each cart; sled or sleigh, two horses, 25 cents; each head of neat cattle, 3 cents; each hog or sheep, 1 cent; all public mails and United States troops, free. This schedule of tolls was to last until 1840, after which the legislature could regulate or do away with them. The old bridge company consisted of Humphrey Fullerton, John Carlisle, John McLandburgh, Joseph Miller and J. W. Miller. Their action was according to an act of legislature dated October 15, 1815. The Gazette of November 6, 1817 states that the "elegant structure is now open for travel." In 1827 the bridge became the property of the county, on payment of $19,250. The original bridge consisted of two spans, each 150 feet long, with a long trestle running from the north end. In 1839, by a much mixed up arrangement the Zanesvllle and Maysville Turnpike company be came the nominal owners of the bridge and built the third covered span at the north end; but there was some flaw in the transfer, and, in. 1865, the bridge came back to Ross county's possession. It was replaced by the present iron bridge in 1886."

Sources:
Clark, Todd. Information received by email, June 2016
Chillicothe Gazette, April 28, 1900, p.20.
Wood, Miriam. Ohio Covered Bridge Index, Ross County