About Hune Covered Bridge
Hune Covered Bridge is a historic 164-foot Long truss bridge located in Lawrence Township, Washington County, Ohio. Built in 1879 by local bridge builder Rollin Meredith, it spans the Little Muskingum River near the Wayne National Forest canoe access. The bridge is named for the locally prominent Hune family, early settlers who owned extensive farmland in the area.
History of Hune Covered Bridge
Hune Covered Bridge was constructed in 1879 by Rollin Meredith of Marietta for $7.17 per linear foot. The historic name was Gallagher's Ford. The yellow poplar timber for the bridge was cut on the Hune farm, and the stone for the abutments was quarried there as well. William Hune was a prosperous tobacco farmer and stockman who purchased large amounts of land until he had 525 acres with multiple settlers' cabins. The bridge was rehabilitated in 1998 and survived floods in 2004 and 2005. In 1976, the Hune Bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Architecture and Design
The Hune Bridge is a 12-panel Long truss, measuring 128 feet 10 inches overall with a 122-foot truss length. The roadway width is 14 feet 1 inch, and the overall width is 17 feet 5 inches, with 15-foot overhead clearance. The Long truss was patented in 1830 by Colonel Stephen H. Long of the U.S. Army Topographical Engineers. It is an all-wooden truss consisting of a series of braces and counterbraces forming an X between wooden verticals. The bridge has never been painted and has weathered to a soft gray color.
Visiting Hune Covered Bridge
Hune Covered Bridge is located on Township Road 34 (Cullen Road) off State Route 26 in Lawrence Township. From Marietta, travel northeast on State Route 26 for about 18 miles through Moss Run and Dart. At approximately 2 miles past Lawrence Baptist Church, turn onto Township Road 921 (Duff Road). The bridge stands watch over the Wayne National Forest canoe access and is part of the Covered Bridge Scenic Byway.