Nomination for Otway Covered Bridge

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

Form 10-300 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR E7 State (Rev. 6-72) NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTORY - NOMINATION FORM FOR NPS USE ONLY ENTRY DATE (Type all entries - complete applicable sections) MAY 31974 AND/ OR HISTORIC: CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT: #6 Unrestricted - Preservation work - Transportation - Comments Commercial X Other (Specify) OWNER OF PROPERTY OWNER'S NAME: % Mrs.

Gladys Riley, Secretary LOCATION OF LEGAL DESCRIPTION COURTHOUSE, REGISTRY OF DEEDS, ETC: Port smouth DATE OF SURVEY: DEPOSITORY FOR SURVEY RECORDS: DEC 1 9 1973 039 Military Site Religious REGISTER ACCESSIBLE CLASSIFICATION LOCATION Government Private CATEGORY Courthouse NAME NATIONAL Museum Both District Structure Educational Unoccupied CODE Agricultural Private Residence Being Considered OWNERSHIP Entertainment Park STATUS Federal Scientific Public Building COUNTY: Industrial Historic Site COMMON: Otway Covered Bridge Yes: Scioto Otway STREET AND NUMBER: REPRESENTATION IN EXISTING SURVEYS Public Acquisition: William H. Harsha TO THE PUBLIC (Check One) TITLE OF SURVEY: Ohio CITY OR TOWN: In Process 145 Object PRESENT USE (Check One or More as Appropriate) MAY DATE ENTRY NUMBER Otway Community Society for the Preservation of Historic Landmarks, Inc.

just north off Ohio348 - Excellent Gt Good - Deteriorated - Ruins - Unexposed - Unaltered O Original Site DESCRIBE THE PRESENT AND ORIGINAL (if known) PHYSICAL APPEARANCE

Description of the property

The Otway Bridge is built on the Smith truss plan, type 3. The Smith truss was patented in 1867 and 1869 by Ohioan Robert W. Smith of Toledo, Ohio. The Otway Bridge is a 12 panel Smith, with arches and steel rods added in and joists are of hemlock, the trusses and arches are of virgin yellow (original flooring unknown) - about 1936 when the state assumed ownership of the bridge, but no defi- weathered grey, always unpainted.

The roof was repaired and painted in DEC 1 9 1973 CONDITION NATIONAL DESCRIPTION REGISTER Moved Fair RECEIVED The structure under consideration is a one span wooden truss covered bridge The portals were originally straight and were probably cut back nite date can be found for this.The portal boards are pine with some amples exist today) and this improvement had an open center panel and the steel low truss span on the east end of the bridge that spans what used to and bottom chords.This patent features the rigidly fastened roof and bolted to angled steel plates beneath the lower chord.The floor beams oak put in recently when repairs were made.

The siding is a soft, the top chords are three 6x 10's; the bottom chords are three 6x 12's; In 1869,Smith patented an improvement on his 1867 truss which no ex The arches are two 4xl2's set in notches in the abutments.The end braces set ata 45° angle between the 60°counterbraces welded to the top (Check One) poplar and the present flooring is 2x3"pine strips laid in 1942 1972. the diagonals are 8x 11's;7 x 11's;7x 10's;8 x 8's; and 7 x 7's. crossing Scioto Brush Creek at Otway in Scioto County, Ohio.

The bridge 1s steel span on the east end was built in 1923 to replace an open woóden floor stringers found in Smith's later truss variations that were not patented..The type 3 version of the Smith truss features reinforcement of The projected portals have a board and batten finish.There is an 8l roadway and al3'clearance.The abutments are of cut stone laid with the center panel with two diagonals,U.S.Patent #97,7l4,December 7,186g 1896.The height of the trusses is 15'; the end posts are two 7x 7's;

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

SIGNIFICANCE PERIOD (Check One or More as Appropriate) - Pre-Columbian! - 18th Century AREAS OF SIGNIFICANCE (Check One or More as Appropriate) - Urban Planning - Prehistoric X Engineering - Other (Specify) - Industry X Transportation The Otway Bridge is in a very scenic, hilly area of western Scioto County pany of Toledo, Ohio, for the superstructure of the bridge. Nicholas were built here in Ohio, Indiana, Pennsylvannia and West Virginia, asso- of the load, and its lightness and cheapness. 1s being preserved as an historic site by a small grouj of dedicated in- Commerce Architecture Conservation dividuals.

Communications Science losophy Aboriginal Education Theater Music Agriculture Literature Military Sculpture itarian Art Religion/Phi truss with no iron rods.Many of the largest and finest covered bridges Landscape Local people built this bridge and their descendants are justifiably proud The Otway Community Society for the Preservation of Historic Landmarks, to see it still standing today.Folklore of the area tells of two wed- Social/Human- chords of the bridge on stilts when it was under construction. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE

Statement of significance

Invention Inc.was organized February 8,196o for the purpose of preserving this to be found in its strength from the method of bracing, equal distribution ciates of Robert W.Smith carried the franchise rights to build this truss Ohio in 1869,U.S.Patent #97,7l4.The Smith truss is an all-wooden Political SPECIFIC DATEIS) (If Applicable and Known) close to state parks, forests, and lakes. Prior to the construction of that same year. On May 9, 1963, the Ohio Historical Society dedicated this bridge was patented by Robert W.

Smith of Tipp City, later Toledo, 1874 1874,the County Commissioners accepted the bid of the Smith Bridge Com- the best Smith trusses left in Ohio.The bridge is in good condition and an historic site marker during ceremonies at the bridge.The Otway Bridge type to the west coast and many Smith trusses were built in California work was done by W.H.Wheeler for 2.89 per perch.The nearby Freeman in Ohio were built on this truss plan.While most of the Smith trusses dings held in the bridge and of a daring young man who walked the top bridge which has been a part of the local scene for nearly a century now. and Oregon.Mr.Smith claimed that the advantages of his truss type were local labor was used at l.io per day per man.The Smith truss used in

The rest of the file

Bibliography, boundary description, and the people who prepared and reviewed the nomination.

MAJOR BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES 40, Stephan Greene Press, 1970. Penn, Demia, "Saga of the Covered Bridge", Connecticut River Valley Wilson, Raymond Eo, "The Story of the Smith Truss", Covered Bridge Topics, Vo1. XXV, #1, April 1967, pages 3-5. GEOGRAPHICAL DATA LATITUDE AND LONGITUDE COORDINA TES DEFINING A RECTANGLE LOCATING THE PROPERTY DEFINING THE CENTER POINT OF A PHOPERTY OF LESS THAN TEN ACRES DEC 1 9 1973 FORM PREPARED BY Date 1 3 November 1, 1973 STREET AND NUMBER: 12.

STATE LIAISON OFFICER CERTIFICATION I hereby certify that this property is included in the tional Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (Public Law 89-665), I hereby nominate this property for inclusion GPO 931-894 039 Seconds Degrees Local LONGITUDE Minutes LATITUDE STATE ORGANIZATION COUNTY Columbus Degrees Minutes Seconds REGISTER CORNER NATIONAL ATTEST: CODE in the National Register and certify that it has been NAME AND TITLE: level of significance of this nomination is: 3155 Whitehead Road Allen,Richard S.,#Covered Bridges of the Middle West",pages 2l-23,and evaluated according to the criteria and procedures set As the designated State Liaison Officer for the Na- Ohlo Covered Bridge Committee National Register, CITY OR TOWN: Covered Bridge Society Bulletin, Vol.Vll, #2,Fall 1960, page Miriam F. Wood APPROXIMA TE ACREAGE OF NOMINATED PROPERTY: forth by the National Park Service.

The recommended Title Director, Office of Archeology and Historic Preservation 3.87 2.24 PHOTOS 3 CONTROL REVIEW ARCHITECTURAL HISTORIAN MAY 3 INT: 1538-73 STATE Entered KEEPER Re-submit Send-back MAPS Cole WORKING NUMBER HISTORIAN BRANCH CHIEF TECH REVIEW Federal Register entry Jne41974 12.27. 12.1973.4121 ARCHEOLOGIST To HHER Accept PROPERTY REVIEW UNIT CHIEF 3/714 Ohi Form No. 10-301a NATIONAL PARK SERVICE MAY 3 AND/OR HISTORIC: LOCA TION Just off Ohio 348 DEC 1 9 1973 DATE OF PHOTO: NEGATIVE FILED AT: 3155 Whitehead Road, Columbus, Ohio 43204 DESCRIBE VIEW, DIRECTION, ETC. INT: 154-72 1974 COUNTY 145 NAME REGIST IDENTIFICATION DATE Scioto STATE Ohio CODE PROPERTY OF THE NATIONAL REGISTER covered bridge.

View is looking northeast, showing west portal and south side of COMMON: ENTRY NUMBER NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES PHOTO CREDIT: Otway Covered Bridge October 1973 PROPERTY PHOTOGRAPH FORM Mrs. Gladys Riley UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR STREET AND NUMBER: (Type all entries~attach to or enclose with photograph) at Otway CITY OR TOWN: FOR NPS USE ONLY (7/72) 039L PHOTO REFERENCE NATIONAL Form No. 10-301a UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE AND/OR HISTORIC: LOCA TION CITY OR TOWN: 1 9 1973 PHOTO CREDIT: DATE OF PHOTO: DESCRIBE VIEW, DIRECTION, ETC. INT: 154-72 039 DATE Scioto NAME COUNTY REGISTE IDENTIFICATION 145 PHOTO REFERENCE Ohio NATIONAL STATE CODE RECEIVED View is looking north, showing south side of covered bridge.

ENTRY NUMBER PROPERTY PHOTOGRAPH FORM PROPERTY OF THE NATIONAL REGISTER NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES October 1973 FOR NPS USE ONLY just off Ohio 348 Mrs. Gladys Riley (Type all entries -attach to or enclose with photograph) (7/72) STREET AND NUMBER: at otway MAY91974 Form No. 10-301a UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE Scioté MAY 3 1974 AND/OR HISTORIC: LOCA TION CITY OR TOWN: Mrs. Gladys Riley DEC 1 9 1973 DATE OF PHOTO: DESCRIBE VIEW, DIRECTION, ETC.

INT: 154-72 039 NAME DATE COUNTY IDENTIFICATION REGISTE STATE PHOTO REFERENCE PROPERTY OF THE NATIONAL REGISTE Ohio NATIONAL CODE Interior view taken from west end showing truss details. October 1973 COMMON: ENTRY NUMBER PHOTO CREDIT: NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES (Type all entries -attach to or enclose with photograph) PROPERTY PHOTOGRAPH FORM Otway STREET AND NUMBER: (7/72) FOR NPS USE ONLY just off ohio 348 NEGATIVE FILED AT: 3155 Whitehead Road, Columbus, Ohio 43204 Otway Covered Bridge E245 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR (July 1968) NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES 1. NAME 2. LOCATION STREET AND NUMBER off Ohio 348 3.

MAP REFERENCE REQUIREMENTS: PROPERTY BOUNDARIES, WHERE REQUIRED, AND NORTH ARROW: DEC 1 9 1973 GPO 932.010 1961 COUNTY REGISTER 1:24000 DATE Quadrangal TOWN 145 STATE NATIONAL Scioto SOURCE COMMON SCALE Ohio AND/OR HISTORIC Form 10-301 Otway Covered Bridge Otway ail entries -attach to or enclose with map) PROPERTY MAP FORM 7-'Otway,ohio GEOLOGICAL SURVEY UNITED STATES OTWAY QUADRANGLE ROAD CLASSIFICATION DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 7.5 MINUTE SERIES (TOPOGRAPHIC) OHIO-SCIOTO CO. State Route Date Entered MAY 3 Franklin County Hosford, John, Bouse State Historie Preservation Officer Me- Daniel R. Porter, Director Hon. Jamae V. Stanton 1974 Location STATE Name Also Notified Cuyahoga County Monroeville Cleveland Regional Paulding County Courthouse Paulding Hon. Howard M.

Metzenbaun Paulding County ENTRIES IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER Seioto County Twinsburg Congregational Church Otway vicinity Canal Winchester vicinity Port Clinton Otway Coverad Bridge Ottava County Courthouse Mr. Steven Ruttenbaum, GSA Ottawa County Bergstreaser Covered Bridge Summit County Old Federal Building (and Post Cffice) Twinsburg Hon. John M. Aehbrook Hon. Delbert L. Lacta Hon. Robert Taft, Jx. Hon. Samuel I. Devine Huron County MAY MMott 5/7/74 Intorstste f7l at 17th Avenue Schug, Mary, House