Cemetery Road Bridge has a “new” home

/ Roadtirementvintage

The Cemetery Road Covered Bridge started its existence in 1886 after bridge builder Henry Hebble completed the construction of the original 129 foot long span over the Anderson Fork of Caesar Creek. In the 1970’s a new lake was planned and that lake when filled would have inundated and destroyed this bridge.

The sign on the entrance

Name plate on bridge

Side of bridge showing abutments

The Reader’s Digest version of the story is that The Army Corp of Engineers ended up giving the bridge away to anyone that would move it. The middle 60 foot section was cut away, and the bridge did get moved, very slowly, to its new home in the Glen Helen Nature Preserve. The trip took two days and necessitated moving some traffic signal lights for clearance as the bridge on wheels was moved through towns.

View through the bridge deck

The bridge, once it was placed on its new location spanning the Yellow Springs Creek, did require substantial repairs including some new deck boards, siding and quite a bit of roof repairs. It was opened for pedestrian traffic only, and is off the road a hundred yards or so in the Glen Helen Nature Preserve.

Henry Hebble utilized the Howe through truss design

Even the bridge deck got graffitied

 

 

 

 

 

Since the opening  in 1975 the bridge has been the victim of serious and widespread vandalism in the form of graffiti over a high percentage of the wood members of the structure. It seems like lots of covered bridges fall victim to this kind of desecration. But, that said, it was great that at least a portion of this fine old bridge was saved from a watery demise.

 

14 thoughts on “Cemetery Road Bridge has a “new” home”

    • Unfortunately we have observed that those bridges “out in the middle of nowhere” are more likely to fall victim to vandalism (graffiti). And it seems that no, nothing is sacred these days. Thanks for sharing.

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  7. Pingback: Cemetery Road Bridge has a “new” home – MobsterTiger

  8. I’ve been coming to this bridge for years- it used to be my place to escape, quiet, peaceful, beautifully surrounded by nature…and I NEVER knew the information I learned from this article, along with other articles you’ve written regarding other covered bridges and attractions in the area. Thank you for providing such knowledge on your site.

    Side note:

    Years ago this was the first place a boy and I took an adventure to the day after we met for the first time, we watched the sunrise as we drove and had coffee on the large rock across the bridge. We carved our initials into that rock that morning…as yhebyears have passed, we introduced that bridge to his young daughter and son, whonwe also carved their initials next to ours in the rock. That boy turned into my boyfriend, then my fiance, and we welcomed our own baby boy 11/22/22; we never got to take him here and carved his initials with the rest of us…he just passed away June 5th, 2024.

    And to be honest, tho this bridge IS sacred and RESPECTED by myself and my fiance, along with our children, we were one of those “punks” to tag this bridge YEARS ago along with carving our initals into the rock as our family grew. He passed a month ago, and it does bring bittersweet memories and comfort to now go here and still see our art work (not the disrespectful, meaningless cuss words, etc. that you do see on this bridge). It’s like he’s still there with me, along with other artwork amd initials we had found by friends who had passed away as well.

    this bridge is historical and a journey to the past in more ways than 1 for so many of us.

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