Logan County has two remaining covered bridges, the McColly Covered Bridge on County Road 13, in Bloomfield Township, and the Bickham Covered Bridge on County Road 38 in Richland Township.
The 130-foot McColly Covered Bridge was built in 1876 by the Anderson Green Company of Sidney, Ohio for $3,103.60. The Anderson Green Company was a reputable Ohio bridge builder specializing in Howe truss designs. The McColly bridge is believed to be the only remaining covered bridge in Ohio built by the Anderson Green Company. The bridge was named after Nicholas McColly, an early resident of the Washington and Bloomfield Township area who owned nearly 250 acres of land along the Great Miami River.
In 1943, a wooden joist floor system was installed and in 1958, the floor system was replaced, and the truss was strengthened. The McColly Covered Bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. The bridge was closed in 1993 due to deterioration and vandalism. On January 24, 2000, the McColly Covered Bridge rehabilitation/preservation project began. The Righter Co. Inc. of Columbus was hired for the renovation. The bridge was raised two feet and set back down on concrete abutments and piers to help keep it above flood waters and damp soil. The outside of the bridge was stained red, its original color when built. The contractors completed the restoration on the bridge on September 26, 2000, and the Logan County Engineer’s office completed the roadwork on November 7, 2000. A grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony for the McColly Covered Bridge was held on November 14, 2000. Max and Yvonne Smith of Bloomfield Township were the first to drive across the newly restored bridge.
The McColly Covered Bridge restoration/preservation project received an award from the Ohio Historic Preservation Office, the Federal Highway Administration, and the Ohio Department of Transportation as an outstanding example of preservation, rehabilitation, and reuse of a historic bridge.
The Bickham Covered Bridge was built in 1877 by the Smith Bridge Company of Toledo. It was named after the Bickham family. Hugh Bickham came to the Huntsville area in 1823 and lived just north of the bridge. Robert and G.W. Bickham owned land just east of the bridge and had a sawmill.
The Howe truss bridge is 106 ½ feet long with a single span of 90 feet over the south fork of the Great Miami River. The bridge was originally constructed of white pine and had to be repaired after the 1913 flood. The bridge was renovated in the 1950’s to accommodate modern-day traffic and underwent a major reconstruction in 2002. The Righter Co. Inc., who repaired the McColly Covered Bridge, was hired for the renovation.
Once the restoration began, crews discovered the steel rods tying beams together were nearly rusted through. Beams and posts throughout the structure that were rotted, cracked, or damaged were replaced, when possible, with Eastern white pine which was used for the original structure. Southern yellow pine was used to replace the larger timbers. New decking was installed, and the outside sanded and returned to its original red color. The inside of the bridge was painted with a white fire-retardant paint. In November 2002, the Bickham Covered Bridge restoration was completed. A grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony was held November 19, 2002.
At one time Logan County had several covered bridges. In January 1937, it was reported the WPA removed the covered bridge over Stony Creek and replaced it with a new concrete and steel bridge. The siding from the bridge was used to construct a tool shed and shelter near the new bridge. At that time, there were three other covered bridges, the McColly, Bickham and one over the Muchinippi Creek.
Visit the Logan County History Center to learn more interesting aspects of Logan County History.
The History Center is open for tours Wednesday - Sunday from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm.
Pictured:
Covered bridge that was once located near the west corporation line of DeGraff ca 1930.
Howe Truss example drawn by Eric Sloane
The Bickham Covered Bridge built in 1877
The McColly Covered Bridge pictured in 1996
Max & Yvonne Smith driving over the newly restored McColly Covered Bridge in November 2000.
Indian Lake Art Association members from left, Rita Holloway, Barbara Hall, Coleen Trout, Karen Fults, and Deb Patrick at the Bickham Covered Bridge in August 1978. They were preparing for the 2nd Annual Covered Bridge Art Festival that was held September 9, 1978.
Randy Fry riding his high-wheel bicycle across the Bickham Covered Bridge in November 2002 during the opening ceremony
The McColly Covered Bridge built in 1876
The 130-foot McColly Covered Bridge was built in 1876 by the Anderson Green Company of Sidney, Ohio for $3,103.60. The Anderson Green Company was a reputable Ohio bridge builder specializing in Howe truss designs. The McColly bridge is believed to be the only remaining covered bridge in Ohio built by the Anderson Green Company. The bridge was named after Nicholas McColly, an early resident of the Washington and Bloomfield Township area who owned nearly 250 acres of land along the Great Miami River.
In 1943, a wooden joist floor system was installed and in 1958, the floor system was replaced, and the truss was strengthened. The McColly Covered Bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. The bridge was closed in 1993 due to deterioration and vandalism. On January 24, 2000, the McColly Covered Bridge rehabilitation/preservation project began. The Righter Co. Inc. of Columbus was hired for the renovation. The bridge was raised two feet and set back down on concrete abutments and piers to help keep it above flood waters and damp soil. The outside of the bridge was stained red, its original color when built. The contractors completed the restoration on the bridge on September 26, 2000, and the Logan County Engineer’s office completed the roadwork on November 7, 2000. A grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony for the McColly Covered Bridge was held on November 14, 2000. Max and Yvonne Smith of Bloomfield Township were the first to drive across the newly restored bridge.
The McColly Covered Bridge restoration/preservation project received an award from the Ohio Historic Preservation Office, the Federal Highway Administration, and the Ohio Department of Transportation as an outstanding example of preservation, rehabilitation, and reuse of a historic bridge.
The Bickham Covered Bridge was built in 1877 by the Smith Bridge Company of Toledo. It was named after the Bickham family. Hugh Bickham came to the Huntsville area in 1823 and lived just north of the bridge. Robert and G.W. Bickham owned land just east of the bridge and had a sawmill.
The Howe truss bridge is 106 ½ feet long with a single span of 90 feet over the south fork of the Great Miami River. The bridge was originally constructed of white pine and had to be repaired after the 1913 flood. The bridge was renovated in the 1950’s to accommodate modern-day traffic and underwent a major reconstruction in 2002. The Righter Co. Inc., who repaired the McColly Covered Bridge, was hired for the renovation.
Once the restoration began, crews discovered the steel rods tying beams together were nearly rusted through. Beams and posts throughout the structure that were rotted, cracked, or damaged were replaced, when possible, with Eastern white pine which was used for the original structure. Southern yellow pine was used to replace the larger timbers. New decking was installed, and the outside sanded and returned to its original red color. The inside of the bridge was painted with a white fire-retardant paint. In November 2002, the Bickham Covered Bridge restoration was completed. A grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony was held November 19, 2002.
At one time Logan County had several covered bridges. In January 1937, it was reported the WPA removed the covered bridge over Stony Creek and replaced it with a new concrete and steel bridge. The siding from the bridge was used to construct a tool shed and shelter near the new bridge. At that time, there were three other covered bridges, the McColly, Bickham and one over the Muchinippi Creek.
Visit the Logan County History Center to learn more interesting aspects of Logan County History.
The History Center is open for tours Wednesday - Sunday from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm.
Pictured:
Covered bridge that was once located near the west corporation line of DeGraff ca 1930.
Howe Truss example drawn by Eric Sloane
The Bickham Covered Bridge built in 1877
The McColly Covered Bridge pictured in 1996
Max & Yvonne Smith driving over the newly restored McColly Covered Bridge in November 2000.
Indian Lake Art Association members from left, Rita Holloway, Barbara Hall, Coleen Trout, Karen Fults, and Deb Patrick at the Bickham Covered Bridge in August 1978. They were preparing for the 2nd Annual Covered Bridge Art Festival that was held September 9, 1978.
Randy Fry riding his high-wheel bicycle across the Bickham Covered Bridge in November 2002 during the opening ceremony
The McColly Covered Bridge built in 1876
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