Bell Covered Bridge facts for kids
The Bell Covered Bridge is a special old wooden bridge in Washington County, Ohio, United States. It's called a "covered bridge" because it has a roof and sides, like a long, narrow house. This helps protect the wooden parts from rain, snow, and sun. The bridge was built a long time ago and is still used by cars today. It's considered a historic site, which means it's an important part of history.
Quick facts for kids |
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Bell Covered Bridge
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Southern portal and western side
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 Location in Ohio
Location in the United States
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| Location | Northwest of Barlow in Barlow Township |
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| Nearest city | Barlow, Ohio |
| Area | Less than 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1888 |
| Architect | Ebenezer B. Henderson |
| Architectural style | Multiple Kingpost Truss |
| NRHP reference No. | 12000836 |
| Added to NRHP | October 3, 2012 |
Contents
Where is the Bell Covered Bridge Located?
This historic bridge is found in a quiet, rural area near the town of Barlow. It crosses over a stream called Falls Creek. The bridge is surrounded by woods and farm fields. It sits next to land that used to belong to the Bell family, which is how the bridge got its name.
Who Built the Bell Covered Bridge?
The Bell Covered Bridge was built in 1888 by a man named E.B. Henderson. He was a very busy bridge builder in the area. Henderson built four covered bridges in this part of Ohio. Besides the Bell Covered Bridge, he also built the Blackwood Covered Bridge in 1879, the Shinn Covered Bridge in 1886, and the Henry Covered Bridge in 1894.
How Was the Bridge Designed?
The Bell Covered Bridge uses a special building style called a "multiple king post truss." A truss is a framework of triangles that makes a bridge very strong. This design became popular after it was used on a famous bridge in Zanesville, Ohio.
The bridge has a simple gable roof, which is a common pointed roof shape. It also has small windows just below the roofline. The bridge is about 59 feet (18 m) long. The road inside is about 15 feet (4.6 m) wide, and there's enough room for vehicles up to about 9 feet (2.7 m) tall to pass through.
The bridge rests on strong supports called abutments. These supports are made from sandstone that was found nearby. The roof of the bridge is made of tin, which helps protect the wood from the weather.
Keeping the Bridge Strong
The Bell Covered Bridge has been open for traffic almost continuously since it was built. However, it has been closed twice for important repairs. In 1998, the bridge had some structural problems. During this time, parts of the stone supports were replaced. The strong truss system was also made even stronger. Any missing or broken parts were replaced with new ones that looked exactly the same.
Then, in 2005, the bridge needed repairs again because of damage caused by termites. Termites are tiny insects that can eat wood. After these repairs, the bridge was reopened and has been in use ever since.
A Special Historic Landmark
In late 2012, the Bell Covered Bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This is a special list of places in the United States that are important to history. The bridge was recognized because it's a great example of local engineering and how bridges were built a long time ago.
The Bell Covered Bridge is one of seven covered bridges in Washington County that are on this important list. The other bridges include Henderson's Shinn Bridge, and the Harra, Hildreth, Hune, Rinard, and Root Bridges.
