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Harpersfield Covered Bridge facts for kids

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Harpersfield Bridge
Harpersfield (Ashtabula County, Ohio) Covered Bridge 1.jpg
Locale Ashtabula County, Ohio, United States
Characteristics
Design double span, Howe truss
Total length 228 feet (69.5 m)
History
Construction begin 1868
Harpersfield Covered Bridge Dot Map.png
Location of the bridge in Ashtabula County
Map of Ohio highlighting Ashtabula County
Location of Ashtabula County in Ohio

The Harpersfield Bridge is a really cool covered bridge in Ashtabula County, Ohio, United States. It stretches over the Grand River in a place called Harpersfield Township.

This bridge is special because it's a "double-span" bridge, meaning it has two main sections. It uses a design called a Howe truss, which is a strong way to build bridges with wood and metal. It's one of 17 covered bridges you can still drive across in Ashtabula County! At 228 feet long, it's also the third longest covered bridge in all of Ohio.

Something interesting happened in 1913: a big flood washed away some of the land at the north end of the bridge. To fix this, a new steel section was added. When the bridge was updated in 1991-1992, they even added a special walkway for people to use. You can also find an Ashtabula County MetroPark right at its north end, which is a great place to visit. Because of its history and unique design, the Harpersfield Bridge is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

History of the Harpersfield Bridge

The Harpersfield Bridge has a long and interesting past. Here are some important dates:

  • 1868 – The bridge was first built. Imagine how different things were back then!
  • 1913 – A big flood caused damage, and a new steel part was added to make the bridge longer and stronger.
  • 1962 – A new road was built around the area, so people didn't have to drive over the bridge as much.
  • 1975 – The bridge was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's an important historical site.
  • 1991-1992 – The bridge got a big makeover! It was renovated to keep it in good shape, and that's when the walkway was added.

Bridge Size and Features

The Harpersfield Bridge is quite impressive in size.

  • Length: The bridge is 228 feet (69 m) long. That's about the length of 15 school buses lined up!
  • Overhead clearance: The height limit for vehicles is 12 feet 9 inches (3.89 m). This means taller trucks might not be able to pass through.

Gallery

  • Harpersfield Covered Bridge Panoramic View June 2016 - panoramio

    A panoramic view of the bridge in June 2016.

  • The Harpersfield Covered Bridge
  • Harpersfield Covered Bridge May 2015 - panoramio (1)
  • Harpersfield Covered Bridge May 2015 - panoramio
  • Harpersfield Covered Bridge, Harpersfield Township, Ohio, USA
  • Harpersfield Covered Bridge May 2015 - panoramio (2)
  • Harpersfield Covered Bridge (2015)
  • Harpersfield Bridge Historical Marker

    Ohio Historical Marker

  • Grand River Panoramic View June 2016 - panoramio

    A panoramic view of Grand River in June 2016.

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Harpersfield Covered Bridge Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.