Eakin Mill Covered Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Eakin Mill Covered Bridge
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Northern side of the bridge
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 Location in Ohio
Location in the United States
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| Location | Mound Hill Rd., Arbaugh, Ohio |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1870 |
| Architect | Gilman & Ward Co. |
| Architectural style | King post truss |
| NRHP reference No. | 76001539 |
| Added to NRHP | March 16, 1976 |
The Eakin Mill Covered Bridge is a special old bridge in Vinton County, Ohio, United States. People also call it the "McLaughlin Bridge" or the "Geer's Mill Bridge." You can find it near the small town of Arbaugh, carrying Mound Hill Road. It's a cool example of how bridges were built a long time ago!
What is the Eakin Mill Covered Bridge?
The Eakin Mill Covered Bridge is a historic covered bridge. A covered bridge is a bridge with walls and a roof, like a long tunnel. This helps protect the wooden parts of the bridge from rain and snow. This makes the bridge last much longer.
How the Bridge Was Built
This bridge was built in 1870. It was made by a company called Gilman and Ward. They were general contractors from McArthur, Ohio. The bridge crosses over the Big Raccoon Creek.
- The bridge uses a special design called a "king post truss." This design uses strong wooden beams shaped like triangles. These triangles help to hold up the bridge.
- Most bridges like this had just one main "king post." But the Eakin Mill Bridge was built with many king posts. This made it much stronger than other bridges.
- It needed to be extra strong because of the Eakin Mill. This was a busy gristmill nearby. A gristmill grinds grain into flour. Many heavy wagons and carts used the bridge to reach the mill.
- The builders used strong stone piers to support the bridge. They also put a metal roof on top. The sides of the bridge are covered with weatherboarding, which protects the wood.
A Bridge with History
Over time, big trucks started to use the roads. These trucks were often much heavier than the bridge was designed for. Because of this, the Eakin Mill Covered Bridge started to get damaged. It became unsafe for heavy traffic.
- The bridge was eventually closed to vehicles. A new, modern bridge was built nearby to take its place.
- Even though it's not used for daily traffic anymore, the Eakin Mill Covered Bridge is still in its original spot. It is now a special historic site.
- In 1976, the Eakin Mill Covered Bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's recognized as an important historical place. It earned this honor because of its unique engineering and its role in Ohio's history.
