| World Guide
Numbers (WGN) are listed, when known. WGN assigned numbers are coded,
such as 46-03-01. The first two numbers are the assigned State number
in alphabetical order. The second two numbers represent the county
number, also in alphabetical order. The third pair of characters
or numbers is the bridge number. All non authentic bridges, as well
as a few authentic bridges, are numbered with an alpha character in lieu
of the last two digits, i.e., 45-08-A (Vermont's Joe's Pond non authentic
Stringer Covered Bridge).
World Guide
Covered Bridge (WGCB) numbers have been assigned by the National
Society for the Preservation of Covered Bridges (NSPCB) are
referenced for all listed bridges. Assigned numbers are coded, such
as NH-05-12 or VT-115-a. The first two characters are the postal
abbreviations for the state (formerly digits starting at 01 represented
the state in alphabetical order). The second two digits represents
the county in alphabetical order starting at 01 for each state. The
third pair of characters represents the bridges place in the NSPCB tally
of that county's bridges, starting at 01 for authentic truss type bridges
or a letter for non authentic type bridges, an upper case letter for motor
vehicle bridges, and a lower case letter for footbridges. Additionally,
bridges that have a leading "(" before the last letter, are considered
O.C.B.I. - "Of Covered Bridge Interest" - a Covered Bridge that is under
12' or is just on the ground and not over anything, i.e., 45-12-(b.
Ohio - General
information. A conservative guess is that the state
once had well over 2,000 covered bridges. Compiled In 1937, the first published
compilation had a total of 609, with nearly a hundred on the 12,000
mile state highway system. Because there were deficiencies in the count,
the actual number at the time was probably closer to 700. In late 1951,
a privately taken census of Ohio covered bridges came to 399. During the
1950s the figure dropped drastically. Nearly all the covered bridges on
state highways were eliminated.
Ohio has three
trusses that are unique to Ohio, the Bowstring, Partridge, and Wernwag
Truss. There are two Bowstring truss bridges in Ohio, one, built in 1881,
has an added Burr arch to the original Bowstring construction. The other
is the only pure Bowstring Truss in the world. There are only five out
of an original 200 locally built Partridge Truss covered bridges left.
The other truss, built in 1892, and singular to Ohio, is the only known
Wernwag Truss in the United States. Other trusses in Ohio are the Warren,
Pratt, Long, Smith, Kingpost, Queenpost and Childs. Also found are the
Howe, Town Lattice, Burr and Multiple Kingpost Trusses.
Ohio had a total
of 142 covered bridges as of 1986/87.
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