Ponn Humpback Covered Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Ponn Humpback Covered Bridge
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Western side and northern portal
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 Location in Ohio
Location in the United States
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| Location | 4 miles southwest of Wilkesville, Ohio, over Raccoon Creek |
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| Area | Less than 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1874 |
| Architect | Martin E. McGrath; Lyman Wells |
| Architectural style | Burr arch |
| NRHP reference No. | 73001545 |
| Added to NRHP | April 11, 1973 |
The Ponn Humpback Covered Bridge was a special old bridge in Ohio. It was located near a village called Wilkesville in Vinton County. This bridge was unique because it had a "humpback" shape, meaning it was arched in the middle instead of being flat. It was a historic site for many years. Sadly, the bridge had a history of being burned on purpose. It was built to replace an earlier bridge that had been set on fire, and it was also destroyed by fire in the end.
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The Story of the Ponn Humpback Bridge
The very first bridge over Raccoon Creek near Wilkesville was built in 1848. It lasted for a long time, until 1870. Then, the local government decided to build a new one.
A Bridge Replaced by Fire
The second bridge didn't last as long as the first. Just four years later, in 1874, it was burned down on purpose by someone unknown. At that time, setting fires like this was a common problem in that part of Vinton County. The county offered a large reward of $1,000 to catch the person responsible, but no one was ever caught.
Building the Humpback Bridge
Right after the fire, county leaders quickly decided to build a new bridge. They raised money with a new tax. Under the guidance of Martin McGrath and Lyman Wells, the Ponn Humpback Bridge was finished within the same year, 1874. It cost $1,898 to build.
For many years, the bridge was used by cars and wagons. Over time, it started to show signs of wear and tear. Instead of fixing or replacing it, officials built a new bridge next to it. This new bridge took over the road traffic. The Ponn Humpback Bridge then became a special place for visitors to see.
The Final Fire
The Ponn Humpback Bridge was recognized as a historic site in 1973. It stayed in its original spot until June 6, 2013. On that day, it was destroyed by another fire. State officials later confirmed that this fire was also set on purpose.
How the Humpback Bridge Was Built
The Ponn Humpback Bridge was made mostly of wood, but it also had some strong steel parts. It rested on solid stone foundations made of sandstone.
Its Unique Shape
The bridge used a special design called a Burr arch truss. This design included a curve, or "camber," of about 19 inches. This curve was present at both the bottom and top of the bridge's walls.
The most special thing about the bridge was its arch, or "humpback." This arch was about 1% of the bridge's total length of 165 feet. It wasn't built this way for boats to pass underneath. Instead, the arch helped the bridge cross the deep Raccoon Creek gorge without needing any support in the middle. Because of this clever design, the Humpback Bridge was one of Ohio's longest and most unusual covered bridges for many years.
A Historic Landmark
The Ponn Humpback Covered Bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places in April 1973. This made it the very first place in Vinton County to receive this important recognition.
Other historic sites in the county were added later. For example, Hope Furnace became a historic site the next month. A group of ancient Indian mounds was added in 1974. By the time the Ponn Humpback Bridge was destroyed, Vinton County had ten sites on the National Register.
Even though the bridge was destroyed by fire, it doesn't mean it's automatically removed from the National Register. For example, the Lockington Covered Bridge in western Ohio burned down in 1989, but it was still on the Register when the Humpback Bridge was destroyed.
