THIS CACHE IS LOCATED NEAR A BEAUTIFUL
RESTORED COVERED BRIDGE IN ST. CLAIRSVILLE OHIO. THIS CACHE IS PART
OF MY LOCAL HISTORY TOUR AND WAS PLACED TO INFORM AND CARRY ON THE
HISTORY OF THIS GREAT BRIDGE.
The
Shaeffer/Campbell Covered Bridge stands east of the Ohio University
Eastern Campus, I-70 Exit 213, overlooking a pond. It was
originally built
in 1891 in Fairfield
County. Rescused from destruction in the late 1960's, it was
reconstructed on the present site in 1975. The Belmont Campus
Bridge was formerly known as the Shaeffer-Campbell Covered Bridge
while it served Fairfield County was located on Clear Creek. It was
closed and removed when a farm tractor fell through the floor in
1973. It was then moved to Belmont County in 1975. Although there
is some graffiti inside the bridge, it is in excellent condition
overall. County workers dismantled the bridge in Fairfield and
numbered each piece of the bridge. A sketch was drawn to assist in
the reconstruction of the bridge on Ohio University's Belmont
Campus.
The Shaeffer-Campbell Covered Bridge is 68 feet long and sits over
a small lake. The bridge was constructed with a multiple kingpost
truss. A truss is made up of timbers arranged in such a
manner to form a series of triangles, which are the side structures
of the covered bridge. The truss will support the bridge's own
weight and the weight that crosses over the bridge. It has a
reddish brown wood siding and is one of the few bridges in Ohio
that has a shake roof.
The Federal Highway Administration will provide $1.4 million for
the historic restoration and preservation of six Ohio Bridges. The
funding though the National Historic Covered Bridge Program which
provides funds to states to preserve, rehabilitate or restore
historic covered bridges. The Shaeffer/Campbell Covered Bridge
received $45,520 for preservation through the program.
"These bridges are among the most distinctive covered bridges in
the U.S., so maintaining their charm is an important priority in
Ohio.
The Shaeffer/Campbell Covered Bridge is
located at the end of Richland Township Road 1518 outside Saint
Clairsville, Ohio.
Truss Type: Multiple Kingpost
35-07-05
68 feet long built in 1891