About Rinard Covered Bridge
Rinard Covered Bridge is a historic 130-foot Smith truss bridge located in Ludlow Township, Washington County, Ohio. Originally built in 1876, the bridge spans the Little Muskingum River at County Road 406 near Wingett Run. Also known as Hendershott's Ford Bridge, it is one of ten surviving Type 3 Smith trusses in the country.
History of Rinard Covered Bridge
The original covered bridge at this site was built in 1871 but was destroyed in a flood just five years later. The Smith Bridge Company of Toledo constructed a replacement in 1876 using Robert W. Smith's patented truss system. The bridge has been tested repeatedly by floods: in 1913 and 1938 it was washed downstream but salvaged and reassembled. In September 2004, flooding from hurricane remnants again washed the bridge off its foundation. It was painstakingly rebuilt in 2006 using original timbers to retain its National Register designation. The bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 8, 1976.
Architecture and Design
The Rinard Bridge is a 12-panel Type 3 Smith truss, 140 feet long overall with a clear span of 130 feet. The roadway width is 14 feet, and the overall width is 17 feet, with 13-foot overhead clearance. The Smith truss was patented in 1869 by Robert W. Smith of Tipp City, later Toledo, Ohio. This truss features an all-wooden design with an open center panel, braces set at a 5-degree angle, and counterbraces at 60 degrees. The bridge has vertical, high-boarded siding, a metal roof, and cut-stone abutments.
Visiting Rinard Covered Bridge
Rinard Covered Bridge is located at the intersection of State Route 26 and County Road 406 (Tice Run Road) in Ludlow Township, about 1.5 miles northeast of Wingett Run. From the Hune Bridge, continue north on State Route 26 for approximately 1.5-2 miles and turn right onto County Road 406. The bridge is part of the Wayne National Forest Covered Bridge Scenic Byway and has been a popular tourist destination with picnic facilities maintained by a local 4-H Club.