About Church Hill Road Covered Bridge
The Church Hill Road Covered Bridge holds a unique distinction as one of the shortest covered bridges in the United States still standing on a once-used public highway. With a clear span of just 19 feet 3 inches, this diminutive structure demonstrates that covered bridges came in all sizes to meet the needs of Ohio's early communities. The bridge features a rare two-panel Kingpost truss design, the simplest form of covered bridge construction.
History of Church Hill Road Covered Bridge
Built in the 1870s, the Church Hill Road Bridge originally spanned the Middle Fork of Little Beaver Creek in Elkrun Township, Columbiana County. For over a century, it served travelers on Church Hill Road until the county bypassed it in 1962. A small rural park was established around the bridge at that time. In 1982, the Elkrun Township Historical Society relocated the bridge to its current location along State Route 154 in Elkton. A $32,000 rehabilitation was completed in 2003, ensuring this historic treasure would survive for future generations. An Ohio Historic Site marker was dedicated at the bridge in June 1963.
Architecture and Design
The Church Hill Road Bridge is one of only two simple Kingpost trusses remaining in Ohio. The Kingpost truss is the most basic form of covered bridge construction, consisting of a simple triangle where the diagonal braces are compression members and the center post (kingpost) is the tension member. This design can be called the earliest form of bridge truss, with origins going back centuries. The bridge features vertical high-boarded siding, a shingle roof, straight portals, and cut stone abutments. It measures approximately 19 feet long and 3 feet wide.
Visiting Church Hill Road Covered Bridge
The Church Hill Road Covered Bridge is located at 42087 OH-154 near Lisbon, Ohio, at the Elkrun Township Tourism Bureau and Museum. The bridge is easily accessible along State Route 154 east of Scroggs Road. Signage in the area directs visitors to the "Shortest Covered Bridge in the United States." The bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places in June 1975, making it a must-see destination for covered bridge enthusiasts visiting Columbiana County.