Harshaville Covered Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Harshaville Covered Bridge
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 Location in Ohio
Location in the United States
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| Location | Harshaville, Ohio |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Architectural style | Burr truss covered bridge |
| NRHP reference No. | 76001357 |
| Added to NRHP | March 16, 1976 |
The Harshaville Covered Bridge is a really old and cool bridge in Harshaville, Ohio. It crosses the Cherry Fork Creek in Adams County, Ohio. This special bridge was built way back in 1855. It's famous because it's a type of bridge called a Burr truss and it's 110 feet long! It even has a metal roof and strong stone supports. In 1976, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's an important historical site.
What Makes This Bridge Special?
The Harshaville Covered Bridge is a great example of a "Burr truss" bridge. This design uses both arches and a special criss-cross pattern of wood. This makes the bridge super strong. It was built to last a very long time! The bridge is named after the Harsha family. They built a mill nearby a long time ago.
A Glimpse into History
Imagine this bridge standing strong during a big event in history! In the summer of 1863, during the American Civil War, a group of soldiers came through. These were raiders from the Confederate States Army. Their leader was named John Hunt Morgan.
This event is known as Morgan's Raid. The soldiers ransacked a store in Harshaville. They also burned many bridges in the area. But guess what? They left the Harshaville Covered Bridge alone! It was spared and continued to stand.
Saving the Bridge
Old bridges sometimes need a little help to stay strong. In June 2010, the Ohio Department of Transportation got a special grant. It was $100,000 from the Federal Highway Administration. This money was for fixing up the bridge.
The plan was to make the bridge look more like it did when it was first built. They wanted to replace the metal siding with wood. They also planned to put on a new metal roof. An expert named Tom Cross said, "Once this work is completed, this bridge will look like new." This project helped keep the historic bridge safe for many more years.
