About Hopewell Church Covered Bridge
The Hopewell Church Covered Bridge is a 55-foot Multiple Kingpost Truss span built in 1874, crossing Painter Creek on Cooperriders Road in Hopewell Township, Perry County, Ohio. Named for the nearby Hopewell United Methodist Church, it is the middle bridge in a trio of nearly identical covered bridges in the county and the oldest of the three, predating its sister structures by five and nine years.
History of Hopewell Church Covered Bridge
Built in 1874, the Hopewell Church Covered Bridge is the oldest of Perry County's three look-alike covered bridges. Along with the Parks Bridge (1883) and Jacks Hollow Bridge (1879), it represents a cohesive group of Multiple Kingpost structures built during a nine-year period in the county. In 1976, all three bridges were painted in patriotic red, white, and blue colors to celebrate America's Bicentennial, a tradition sanctioned by Perry County officials. The bridge takes its name from the adjacent Hopewell United Methodist Church, which provides a picturesque backdrop in photographs.
Architecture and Design
The Hopewell Church Covered Bridge uses a Multiple Kingpost Truss design spanning 55 feet. Like its sister bridges, it features vertical high-boarded siding, a metal roof, and the characteristic red, white, and blue paint scheme. The bridge is virtually a twin of the Parks Covered Bridge, sharing nearly identical dimensions and construction techniques. Despite being built nine years before the Parks Bridge, it demonstrates the continuity of covered bridge building practices in Perry County during the late 19th century.
Visiting Hopewell Church Covered Bridge
The Hopewell Church Covered Bridge is located on Cooperriders Road in Hopewell Township, approximately 2.5 miles southeast of the village of Glenford. Visitors can park at the Hopewell United Methodist Church gravel lot nearby. The bridge remains open to traffic. It is situated just about a mile from the Parks Covered Bridge on Gower Road, making both bridges easy to visit in a single trip. The scenic rural setting near the church and surrounding farmland makes this one of the most photogenic covered bridge locations in Perry County.