The 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 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 endured time and traffic since the 1870s and stands as testimony to the 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. Roofs and siding protected their heavy timber trusses from the weather, and many served their communities for well over a century. Built by hand with tools such as the broadax, adz, pitsaw, and froe, these bridges reflected the skill of fine craftsmen.
