Bridges Around Columbiana County

There are many familiar bridges in our local area. With the many creeks and streams and a pretty big river they are a natural sight. Most of the time we cross over them and really only pay attention to the views while on them. We have really been spoiled by the natural beauty of the older iron bridges that have been carefully preserved over the years. Those around the state parks and the old toll beauty that crosses the Ohio. 

I thought it would be cool to take a look at those familiar bridges as well as those that are probably unknown to the average person. Ones that have been around just as long or longer. Ones not only made of iron but of stone as well. Some that we probably have crossed but really did not know existed. This is a series of articles of the local bridges around our county and some that border our county line. I have to admit that I have never given much thought of these bridges until I started looking up some of the well known ones. Once there I started seeing information on all kinds of structures that surrounded our home county. Most of the information I found are on the two websites I have listed at the bottom of the page. I did however spend some time tracking down and photographing many of them. There are many pictures of the more known bridges around but not many photographs of the lesser known ones.

I will do several periodical articles on bridges over time. I will also post several photos in a group of each structure covering as many views of each structure as I can. I have to say that seeing them in person sure beats a picture. You can really see the craftsmanship of each design.

The above bridge listed as the Ketchum road  bridge. It is located on RT.518 just outside of West Point down over a hillside in the middle of the west fork of Beaver Creek. Ketchum Road used to connect Rt.518 to Rt.45 long ago. The bridge was built in 1895 by the Penn Bridge Company. It is a Thru Truss type bridge like the one in Fredericktown both being built by same company. The only set back is that this one has never been rebuilt or maintained. Partly because the roads to and from it are now obsolete. As you can see from the pictures below this bridge is highly unstable and probably will be gone in the next few years. Most of the girders underneath have decayed to the point that is very unsafe to even step on the walkway that was added to it years ago. It is an odd site to see in the middle of the woods with the trees growing up around it.

  

Up next are two stone bridges that have been around for a while. The first sits on Dyke Rd off of St Rt 170 north of Pancake Clarkson Rd. It is listed as being built in 1912 making it over one hundred years old. Although there are some much older stone bridges in the county this one is unique that the center portion was laid up with brick while the outside was ornamental sandstone.

Yes that was a weight bench you saw in the shot above. I have no idea how that ever washed down in there. These were photographed during an early spring snow storm as well. The next stone bridge is a train bridge located in Jethro on the west side of East Liverpool. I could not find any information on this bridge anywhere but it is a work of art. A group of us did "Walkers Walk" a year ago and noticed this bridge along the way. Notice in the pics that it must have been added on to at some point to make it wider for another set of tracks. What amazed me was the sheer size of the sandstone used in the arch.

Next is a bridge just across the state line in Beaver county. It is very close to Negley and does cross the northern portion of Beaver Creek. It is a very rare bridge that was built by the West Penn Bridge Company of New Brighton. Built in 1878 and located on Watts Mills Rd this bridge is considered a pin connected Pratt pony truss bridge. A very rare early example of West Penn's designs. It is the only one like it in the entire region. As of now it sits closed waiting restoration. It also has a center stone pier as well. 

This why it is rare because of the double pin located at the top truss as well as the pin in the diagonal member.

Last up is one of my personal favorites. It is a Bowstring Truss Arch saved by the county engineer about 100 yards from where it was originally built. The Massillon Bridge Company built the bridge in 1878. It is a rare bridge because of the way the arch truss was built. Very few of these types of bridges remain across the country. The county is currently seeking grants to restore this bridge and use it as a pedestrian bridge to cross the ravine between the fairgrounds and the campgrounds. That would be a pretty cool way to enjoy this amazing structure.

There will be many more articles in the future on the bridges in our area. There are so many around here. Some that are abandoned and some that are remarkably still in use.



 Resources:  Bridge Mapper

                            Bridgehunter.com

                            oldohiobridges.com