About Mill Branch Covered Bridge
Mill Branch Covered Bridge is a historic 59-foot Multiple Kingpost truss bridge originally built around 1832, making it the oldest surviving covered bridge in Washington County, Ohio. Originally spanning the Mill Branch of the Little Hocking River, the bridge was relocated to the Barlow Fairgrounds in 1980 to preserve it from deterioration.
History of Mill Branch Covered Bridge
Mill Branch Covered Bridge was built around 1832 and originally stood 0.3 miles east of State Route 339 in Belpre Township, spanning the Mill Branch of the Little Hocking River. In 1980, facing deterioration at its original location, the bridge was moved to the Barlow Fairgrounds by Washington County. The bridge sustained significant damage during Hurricane Ivan in 2004. In 1995, the Barlow Fair Restoration Committee began a five-year restoration of fairground buildings, including work on the bridge in 1999. In 2007, major restoration of structural beams was completed by the Righter Company and community volunteers.
Architecture and Design
The bridge uses the Multiple Kingpost truss design with one span of 59 feet, plus 5-foot overhangs at each end. It has a roadway width of 12 feet, height of 11.5 feet, and once had a 7-ton load limit. The bridge is structurally unusual, having been built with gabled ends that lean outward over their footings at a conspicuous angle, giving it an appearance of being in a constant state of near-collapse despite being structurally sound.
Visiting Mill Branch Covered Bridge
Mill Branch Covered Bridge is now located at the Barlow Fairgrounds at the intersection of State Route 339 and State Route 550 in Barlow. The fairgrounds are easily accessible and the bridge provides a unique photo opportunity. The bridge serves as a reminder of early 19th-century bridge construction and is a centerpiece of the annual Washington and Greene Counties Covered Bridge Festival held each September.