Roberts Bridge / Timber Covered Bridge

Roberts Bridge, built across Seven Mile Creek on the Old Camden Road in 1829-30 by Orlistus Roberts and J.L. Campbell, was in 1962 the oldest covered bridge still standing in Ohio and the last of the state's "double-barreled" spans. Its three burr-arch trusses, built of native oak and poplar with a clear span of 73 feet, support the double roadway. Timber covered bridges were vital links in Ohio's early road, railroad, and canal systems and contributed greatly to the state's growth and development. Their roofs and siding protected 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, skilled craftsmen constructed these sturdy bridges by hand.

Eaton, Ohio · United States