Lockington Covered Bridge
Encyclopedia
The Lockington Covered Bridge was a historic covered bridge
that once spanned the Great Miami River
near Lockington
, Ohio
, United States
. Built in 1848, it employed the Long Truss method of construction. This bridge included of vertical wooden siding, wooden structural elements, wooden shingles on its roof, and cut stone abutment
s. Measuring approximately 170 feet (51.8 m) long, the bridge was composed of two spans
; it cost $1,500 to build.
At the time of its construction, the Lockington bridge was part of a prosperous area whose economy was driven by traffic on the Miami and Erie Canal
. Although the area's economy has declined since that time, some historic elements
remain, and the covered bridge remained a major component of the area's historic nature long after the closure of the canal. By the 1970s, it had become one of the county's oldest extant bridges: it was the only covered bridge in its original location, and it was one of only eight Long Truss covered bridges throughout Ohio. In recognition of its engineering significance, the bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1975.
By the tenth anniversary of its designation as a historic site
, the bridge had deteriorated significantly. As wear
had damaged the abutments, and as the floor had partially rotted, the Shelby County Engineer's Office closed the bridge in 1985. Four years later, the bridge was destroyed by an unexpected fire. Until that point, the county had been seeking to create a park surrounding the bridge; these plans were quickly cancelled. Despite its destruction more than twenty years ago, the Lockington Covered Bridge remains on the National Register.
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...
that once spanned 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...
near Lockington
Lockington, Ohio
Lockington is a village in Washington Township, Shelby County, Ohio, United States, along Loramie Creek. The population was 208 at the 2000 census....
, 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...
. Built in 1848, it employed the Long Truss method of construction. This bridge included of vertical wooden siding, wooden structural elements, wooden shingles on its roof, and cut stone abutment
Abutment
An abutment is, generally, the point where two structures or objects meet. This word comes from the verb abut, which means adjoin or having common boundary. An abutment is an engineering term that describes a structure located at the ends of a bridge, where the bridge slab adjoins the approaching...
s. Measuring approximately 170 feet (51.8 m) long, the bridge was composed of two spans
Span (architecture)
Span is the distance between two intermediate supports for a structure, e.g. a beam or a bridge.A span can be closed by a solid beam or of a rope...
; it cost $1,500 to build.
At the time of its construction, the Lockington bridge was part of a prosperous area whose economy was driven by traffic on the Miami and Erie Canal
Miami and Erie Canal
The Miami and Erie Canal was a canal that connected the Ohio River in Cincinnati, Ohio with Lake Erie in Toledo, Ohio. Construction on the canal began in 1825 and was completed in 1845. It consisted of 19 aqueducts, three guard locks, and 103 canal locks. Each lock measured by and they...
. Although the area's economy has declined since that time, some historic elements
Lockington Locks
The Lockington Locks are a group of canal locks on the former Miami and Erie Canal in Lockington, Ohio, United States. Built beginning in 1833, the locks opened for regular use in 1845. The system consists of seven locks: six together at one end, and a seventh at the southern end...
remain, and the covered bridge remained a major component of the area's historic nature long after the closure of the canal. By the 1970s, it had become one of the county's oldest extant bridges: it was the only covered bridge in its original location, and it was one of only eight Long Truss covered bridges throughout Ohio. In recognition of its engineering significance, the bridge was listed on 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...
in 1975.
By the tenth anniversary of its designation as a historic site
Historic site
A historic site is an official location where pieces of political, military or social history have been preserved. Historic sites are usually protected by law, and many have recognized with the official national historic site status...
, the bridge had deteriorated significantly. As wear
Wear
In materials science, wear is erosion or sideways displacement of material from its "derivative" and original position on a solid surface performed by the action of another surface....
had damaged the abutments, and as the floor had partially rotted, the Shelby County Engineer's Office closed the bridge in 1985. Four years later, the bridge was destroyed by an unexpected fire. Until that point, the county had been seeking to create a park surrounding the bridge; these plans were quickly cancelled. Despite its destruction more than twenty years ago, the Lockington Covered Bridge remains on the National Register.