About Bowman Mill Covered Bridge
The Bowman Mill Covered Bridge is an 81-foot Multiple Kingpost Truss span built around 1880 by Lank Bowman, now located at the Perry County Fairgrounds in New Lexington, Ohio. Also known as the Rush Creek Bridge or Readington Bridge, it was originally located on Winegardner Road over Rush Creek in Reading Township and was moved to its current location in 1987. The bridge is notable for its arched chords that give it a distinctive humpback appearance.
History of Bowman Mill Covered Bridge
The Bowman Mill Covered Bridge was built around 1880, likely by Lank Bowman, whose family operated grist and saw mills along Rush Creek. The bridge served as an important link in the local transportation system during the era when the Bowman mills were flourishing. The 1875 Perry County Atlas shows the surrounding land was owned by Peter Whitmer, with the Bowmans living to the north, and a cider mill located west of the bridge. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. In the fall of 1975, the bridge was painted red, white, and blue with stars and the dates 1776-1976 under the supervision of George W. Jones of the Perry County Engineering Department in honor of the Bicentennial. In 1987, the bridge was relocated to the Perry County Fairgrounds in New Lexington, where it stands today on dry land as a preserved historic structure.
Architecture and Design
The Bowman Mill Covered Bridge features a unique 6-panel Multiple Kingpost Truss design with an open center panel instead of the usual kingpost with diagonals. The bridge has an overall length of 81 feet with a truss length of 71 feet. It is 17.5 feet wide overall with a roadway width of 14 feet 6 inches and a vertical clearance of 11 feet. The trusses stand 14 feet high. One of the bridge's most distinctive features is its arched upper and lower chords, which give it a pronounced camber or humpback appearance. The trusses are fastened with trunnels and bolts, ranging in size from 6x8 to 8x8 inches. Originally a single-span bridge, a center pier of cut stone was added later. The bridge features vertical, random-width board siding with roofed windows cut on each side for visibility, and a sheet metal roof.
Visiting Bowman Mill Covered Bridge
The Bowman Mill Covered Bridge is now located at the Perry County Fairgrounds in New Lexington, at the intersection of Broadway (State Route 37) and Thorn Street. The bridge sits on dry land and is accessible as a pedestrian attraction. Originally located on Winegardner Road three miles west of Somerset, the bridge was moved to the fairgrounds in 1987 for preservation. The fairgrounds location makes it easily accessible to visitors. Somerset, the original nearby community and first county seat of Perry County, is worth exploring for its historic district, also listed on the National Register of Historic Places.