This covered bridge over Middle Run in Elkrun Township, Columbiana County, is the shortest covered bridge in the United States still standing on a once-used public highway, with a clear span of 19 feet and 3 inches. It is a rarely found covered example of the simplest and most basic truss design, the two-panel king post truss. It has withstood time and traffic since the 1870s and testifies to the fine craftsmanship of early Ohio bridge builders. Timber covered bridges were vital links in Ohio’s early road, railroad, and canal systems and contributed greatly to the growth and development of the state. They were covered with roof and siding to protect the heavy timber trusses from the weather, and many carried their loads and served their communities for well over a century. Using broadax, adz, pitsaw, and froe, fine craftsmen were able to construct these sturdy bridges by hand.
