Windsor Mills Covered Bridge facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Windsor Mills Bridge
Coordinates	41°31′59″N 80°57′50″W / 41.53306°N 80.96389°W / 41.53306; -80.96389
Locale	Ashtabula County, Ohio, United States
Characteristics
Design	single span, Town truss
Total length	120 feet (36.6 m)
History
Construction begin	1867
Location of the bridge in Ashtabula County Location of Ashtabula County in Ohio

The Windsor Mills Bridge is a special kind of bridge called a covered bridge. It is also known as the Wiswell Road Bridge or Warner Hollow Road Bridge. This bridge crosses Phelps Creek in Windsor Township, which is in Ashtabula County, Ohio, United States.

It is one of 17 covered bridges you can still drive across in Ashtabula County. The bridge uses a design called a Town truss. This design helps the bridge be strong and stable. The bridge rests on stone supports called abutments. One support is made from sandstone found nearby, and the other uses stones from the creek.

In the 1960s, a new road was built to go around the bridge. This meant the bridge was no longer used for regular traffic. By the 1980s, it was completely closed because it was not safe. From 2002 to 2004, the bridge was fixed up and made new again. After this big repair, it was opened again for cars, but not for large trucks or buses. The Windsor Mills Bridge is an important historical place. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Bridge History and Timeline

The Windsor Mills Bridge has been around for a long time. It has an interesting story of how it was built and later saved.

Building the Bridge

The bridge was first built in 1867. It was an important way for people to cross Phelps Creek.

Repairs and Reopening

Over the years, the bridge got old and needed a lot of work.

• 2002-04 – The bridge went through a big renovation. This means it was carefully repaired and made strong again.
• 2004 – After the repairs, the bridge was officially reopened. It was ready for cars to drive across it once more.

Bridge Size and Design

The Windsor Mills Bridge is a good example of old bridge building.

How Long is the Bridge?

The bridge is 120 feet long. That's about 36.6 meters. It is a single-span bridge, meaning it crosses the creek in one long section without middle supports in the water.

What is a Town Truss?

The bridge uses a "Town truss" design. This design was invented by Ithiel Town. It uses a crisscross pattern of wooden beams. This pattern makes the bridge very strong. It helps the bridge hold up its own weight and the weight of cars.

Images for kids

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  North approach

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  South approach

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  View from the southwest

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  During rehabilitation in 2003