About Eakin Mill Covered Bridge
The Eakin Mill Covered Bridge is a 111-foot Multiple Kingpost Truss bridge spanning Big Raccoon Creek on Mound Hill Road near the community of Arbaugh in eastern Vinton County, Ohio. Built in 1870, it is the oldest and longest covered bridge remaining in the county. Also known as the Arbaugh Bridge, McLaughlin Bridge, and Geer's Mill Bridge, it is the only covered bridge in Vinton County still open to vehicle traffic.
History of Eakin Mill Covered Bridge
The bridge was constructed in 1870 by the well-known McArthur contracting firm of Gilman & Ward at a cost of approximately $2,200. It takes its primary name from the Eakin family, who operated a busy gristmill at this location when the bridge was built. Henry Clay Geer later purchased the mill from the Eakins and operated it for many years, giving rise to the alternate name Geer's Mill Bridge. His brother Jacob ran another mill downstream at the famous Humpback Bridge. The McLaughlin family subsequently bought and operated the mill, living in a house near the bridge until they demolished the mill in 1938. The community name Arbaugh comes from a prominent local family and was chosen to avoid confusion with the other Geer's Mill downstream. Heavy trucks damaged the bridge during construction of the nearby Appalachian Highway, and it was closed to traffic for approximately 30 years. The bridge was significantly rebuilt in 2002 and reopened to traffic. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.
Architecture and Design
The Eakin Mill Bridge features a rare double Multiple Kingpost truss design with added plank braces that create an arch-like appearance. While sometimes described as a Burr Arch truss, the arched members are segmented plank affairs resting on the lower chords rather than extending into the abutments as in a true Burr truss. This heavily built design was necessary to support the frequent heavy traffic serving the busy Eakin Mill gristmill. The bridge rests on original cut-stone abutments, with the east abutment base reinforced with concrete. Both upper and lower chords have been reinforced with steel channels. The entire bridge has a pronounced camber giving it a distinctive humpback appearance. The bridge features vertical high-boarded siding with battens, projected portals, and a sheet metal roof.
Visiting Eakin Mill Covered Bridge
The Eakin Mill Covered Bridge is located on Mound Hill Road approximately half a mile north of the Appalachian Highway (OH-32) near the community of Arbaugh in eastern Vinton County. From the junction of OH-32 and OH-160, travel northeast approximately 3.2 miles on OH-32, then turn north on County Road 38A for 0.3 miles to reach the bridge. This is the only covered bridge in Vinton County that visitors can drive through. The nearby ruins of the Ponn Humpback Bridge, destroyed by arson in 2013, are also worth visiting. The bridge is part of Vinton County's covered bridge driving tour promoted by the Vinton County Convention and Visitors Bureau in downtown McArthur.