Nomination for Eagle Creek Covered Bridge

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

Form 10-300 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR (Rev.

6-72) NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTORY - NOMINATION FORM FOR NPS USE ONLY (Type all entries - complete applicable sections) NAME Eagle Creek Covered Bridge X (Check One) TO THE PUBLIC - Building Structure 5 Unrestricted - Preservation work PRESENT USE (Check One or More as Appropriate) X] Transportation - Comments - Other (Specify) - Scientific OWNER'S NAME: LOCATION OF LEGAL DESCRIPTION COURTHOUSE, REGISTRY OF DEEDS, ETC: George town REPRESENTATION IN EXIST ING SURVEYS TITLE OF SURVEY: DATE OF SURVEY: DEPOSITORY FOR SURVEY RECORDS: AUG 1 9 1975 039 LOCATION Brown 015 REGISTER Site STATE Religious CATEGORY OWNERSHIP CLASSIFICATION ACCESSIBLE Agricultural Commercial Columbus Government Both County HAER Yes: Being Considered Entertainment Educational Museum Unoccupied NATIONAL District STATUS Private CODE Public Industrial 1975 COMMON: Ohio Private Residence Federal Brown County CourtHouse State Route 763 Public Acquisition: 25 South Front Street William H.

Harsha RECEIVED OWNER OF PROPERTY Military 3 miles south of Decatur Bowman Covered Bridge ENTRY DATE STREET AND NUMBER: Brown County Registry of Deeds In Process ANDLOR HISTORIC: CITY OR TOWN: CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT: #6. DATE Park ENTRY NUMBER Object DEC DATA SHEET State of Ohio DESCRIPTION - Excellent E Good - Deteriorated - Unexposed * Original Site high-boarded siding, a metal roof, straight portals and stone abutments. stringers, braces set at a 45° angle between the 60 ° counterbraces of bracing, equal distribution of the load, its lightness and cheap- 1952. It is a very attractive bridge, with sides and portals painted CONDITION Ruins Unaltered type was superior to others because of its strength from the method dry laid limestone with concrete reinforcements.

double and single sets of diagonals.Mr.Smith claimed that his truss a gleaming white.The condition of the bridge is very good. was an all-wood truss and featured rigidly fastened floor and roof strength in the center panels. Raymond E.Wilson of Swarthemore, Pa., Smith truss plan patented in 1867 and again in 1869,#97,714,by (unpatented) on his truss and diagonal braces were added for extra The type 4 variation was most often built after 1875 and featured panel measures 12'o".The trusses are 16 high and are of untreated (Check One) - Moved DESCRIBE THE PRESENT AND ORIGINAL (if known) PHYSICAL APPEARANCE

Description of the property

struction variations. The Bowman Bridge is a 14 panel Smith, type 4 the overall width is 19'4" with a roadway width of 14'8". Each truss The Bowman Bridge is 172'6" overall with a clear span of 164'6"; The structure under consideration is a one-span wooden truss covered This covered bridge is known as the Bowman Bridge and is built on the bridge spanning Eagle Creek three miles south of Decatur in Byrd- has divided the Smith truss into 4 distinct types according to con- Fair Form No. 1D-300a, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR FOR NPS USE ONLY NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES DEC 6 1975 INVENTORY -- NOMINATION FORM CONTINUATION SHEET PAGE Bowman B ridge DATE ENTERED The 1952 rebuilding job on the Bowman Covered Bridge consisted of all new floor Eagle Creek or ITEM NUMBER SEP 1 7 1975 beams, a completely new floor and all new siding.

In 1963, a new roof and new RECEIVED PERIOD (Check One or More as Appropriate) - Pre-Columbian: - 15th Century SPECIFIC DATE(S) (If Applicable and Known) 1872 - Urban Planning Engineering - Other (Specify) STATEMENT OF

Statement of significance

In the late 1930's, there were about 95 covered bridges on the state AUG 1 9 1975 Conservation Commerce SIGNIFICANCE losophy REGISTER Architecture Communications RECEIVED Aboriginal Transportation Science Theater Landscape Art NATIONAL Music Agriculture Invention Prehistoric Literature Military struction sites where they were erected under company supervision and it spans scenic Eagle Creek whose fossiliferous limestone out- around Ohio and the neighboring states. Two of his associates later Smith truss bridges.The Ohio Smith trusses were usually pre-fabri- Bowman comes from the Bowman family who operated a small general store Social/Human- Education.

Industry Sculpture highway system in Ohio.Only the Bowman Bridge remains today.The moved to the West coast where they had the patent rights to build state takes very good care of its last covered span and the result is at the little crossroads community of Neel just to the north of the bridge.The bridge is also known as the Eagle Creek Bridge. an attractive bridge in a very scenic area. Religion/Phi. Political AREAS OF SIGNIFICANCE (Check One or More as Appropriate) cated in the company yards at Toledo and shipped by rail to the con- 1872 itarian using local labor.

The Bowman Bridge is the longest single span covered bridge in Ohio the low bids at letting after letting.Mr.Smith had agents scattered croppings make this a very beautiful and interesting area.The name great numbers in the 1870's with the Smith Bridge Company putting in The Bowman Bri dge is one of only l5 Smith trusses left here in Ohio, 1970, p- 21 to

The rest of the file

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

GEOGRAPHICAL DATA DEFINING A RECTANGLE LOCATING THE PROPERTY DEFINING THE CENTER POINI OF A PHOPERTY Degrees ( AUG 1 9 1975 FORM PREPARED BY National - June 1974 NATIONAL REGISTER VERIFICATION As the designated State Liaison Officer for the Na- I hereby certify that this property is included in the tional Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (Public Law Nationa 1 Register. 89-665), I hereby nominate this property for inclusion in the National Register and certify that it has been evaluated according to the c-iteria and procedures set forth by the National Park Service. The recommended Title Director, Ohio Historical Society August 15, 1975 * U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE : 1973-729-147/1442 3-I LONGITUDE COUNTY LATITUDE Local ORGANIZATION UTM ATTEST: CORNER REGISTER Columbus 039 STATE CODE RECEIVED Miriam F.

Wood State Historic Preservation Officer less than one MAJOR BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES Degrees Minutes Seconds DATE Ohio Covered Bridge Committee LATITUDE AND LONGITUDE COORDINATES 3155 Whitehead Road NAME AND TITLE: STREET AND NUMBER: Ohio 12. STATE LIAISON OFFICER CERTIFICATION level of significance of this nomination is: 12-22-75 Keeper of The National Registt 11.28. Allen, Richard S., Covered Bridges of the Middle West, Stephan Greene Press, Company, 1969, p. 35. Volumn 25, #1, p. 3 to 5. OF LESS THAN TEN ACRES N 38° 17 264120 4294510 APPROXIMATE ACREAGE OF NOMINATED PROPERTY: Ketcham, Bryan E., W 83° Seconds Minutes CITY OR TOWN: Photos - ARCHITECTURAL HISTORIAN To HAER Re-submit _ KEEPER OTHER ARCHEOLOGIST TECHNICAL Send-back Maps Review CONTROL HISTORIAN 75001324 Federal Register Entry National Register Write-up 11-6-75 Working Number8. 19. 75.

15 75 BRANCH CHIEF REVIEW UNIT CHIEF Cole 8,21.75 Inventory BMß 10/31 Entered DEC 6 1975 IN T:2106- 74 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service WASO No. 7 Property State 2-3-76 Brown OMB Approval No. 1024-0018 Eagle Creek Covered Bridge, Decatur Vicinity, Brown County, Ohio. Wood, Historian, Southern Ohio Covered Bridge Association, August 1986. Continuation sheet Page Item number Inventory-Nomination Form Information from research in county commissioners journal provided by Miriam United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Iineal foot.Abutments were by Samuel Rees at $1.29 per perch. NPS Form 10-900-a Exp.

10-31-84 Eagle Creek Covered Bridge Brown County, OHIO Nomination/Type of Review ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Attest Keeper Page Date/Signature Continuation sheet Inventory-Nomination Form State Name National Register of Historic Places Item number National Park Service (3-82) OMB No.1024-0018 United States Department of the Interior date entered For NPS use only received ADDITIONAL INFORMATION WASO Form - 177 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR ("R" June 1984) NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES EVALUATION/RETURN SHEET Working No. - Date Due: _ nomination by person or local government owner objection Federal Agency: _ Jappeal Jrequest - NR decision _ see continuation sheet Nomination returned for: _technical corrections cited below _substantive reasons discussed below 1. Name 2. Location 3. Classification 4. Owner of Property 5. Location of Legal Description 6.

Representation in Existing Surveys 7. Description J excellent -unaltered -original site moved Category Ownership resubmission Condition ruins deteriorated REJECT completeness alterations/integrity sample Status clarity RETURN unexposed boundary selection Action: Brown County Substantive Review: Check one Describe the present and original (if known) physical appearance Accessible Public Acquisition Has this property been determined eligible? summary paragraph Reviewer's comments: Eagle Creek Covered Bridge Present Use good Fed. Reg. Date: dates yes SEP fair Recom./Criteria ACCEPT 10-14-8 10114186 8. Significance Areas of Significance-Check and justify below - summary paragraph J justification of exception Other 9. Major Bibliographical References 10. Geographical Data 11. Form Prepared By State Historic Preservation Officer signature - Date .

- Phone: _ GPO 918-450 Builder/Architect Signed context Period clarity state title local Maps Specific dates applicable criteria 12. State Historic Preservation Officer Certification Questions concerning this nomination may be directed to Verbal boundary description and justification justification of areas checked Photographs UTM References relationship of integrity to significance The evaluated significance of this property within the state is: Comments for any item may be continued on an attached sheet Statement of Significance (in one paragraph) Quadrangle name Acreage of nominated property relating significance to the resource _national completeness BUILT 1872 12'- 3" COVERED BRIDGE REBUILT 1952 EAGLE CREEK 10'6" NPS Numbet PROPERTY OF THE NATIONAL REGISTER 12/6/75 Loc. Form No.

10-301a Br own UEC 6 1975 AND/OR HiSTORIC: Eagle Creek Covered Bridge LOCA TION AUG 1 9 1975 DESCRIBE VIEW, DIRECTION, ETC. North portal of bridge, looking south 039 DATE NAME COUNTY RECEIVED STATE CODE NATIONAL ENTRY NUMBER STREET AND NUMBER: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR PHOTO REFERENCE CITY OR TOWN: NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES PROPERTY PHOTOGRAPH FORM IDENTIFICATION NATIONAL PARK SERVICE (Type all entries -attach to or enclose with photograph) REGISTER Ohio 3 miles south of Decatur SR 763 FOR NPS USE ONLY (7/72) DEC 6 Celumbus, Ohio 43204 NEGATIVE FILED AT: 3155 Whitehead Road 015 Fast side, Loo King West PROPERTY OF THE NATIONAL REGISTER Bowman or Eaghe Creek Bridge, BrownCounty,Ohio NPS Number Loc. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Form No. 10-301a Br own AUG 1 9 1975 DATE OF PHOTO: November 1974 Columbus, Ohio 43204 DESCRIBE VIEW. DIRECTION, ETC.

East side of bridge, 1o0king west 1975 039 DATE COUNTY RECEIVED STATE ENTRY NUMBER CODE IDENTIFICATION REGISTER PROPERTY PHOTOGRAPH FORM NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES (Type all entries -attach to or enclose with photograph) 3 miles south of Decatur STREET AND NUMBER: Ohio CITY OR TOWN: FOR NPS USE ONLY (7/72) SR 763 NEGATIVE FILED AT: 3155 Whitehead Road U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 876- 167 LOCA TION NAME COMMON: PHOTO REFERENCE PHOTO CREDIT:ROn Hill Form No. 10-301 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Rev. 7-72 NATIONAL PARK SERVICE FOR NPS USE ONLY AND/OR HISTORIC: Eagle Creek Covered Brtdge > STREET AND NUM BER: CITY OR TOWN: 3 miles south of Decatur U.S.G.S. Decatur Quadrangle SCALE: 1:24000 AUG 1 9 1975 TO BE INCLUDED ON ALL MAPS 1. Property broundaries where required. 2. North arrow. 3. Latitude and longitude reference.

039 1961 DATE COUNTY NAME NATIONAL Brown 015 RECEIVED STATE CODE REQUIREMENTS LOCATION MAP REFERENCE REGISTER State Route 763 Ohio SOURCE: ENTRY NUMBER NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES PROPERTY MAP FORM (Type all entries-attach to or enclose with map) * U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE : 197 COMMON: UNITED STATES DECATUR QUADRANGLE DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR DECATUR, OHIO STATE OF OHIO AUG 1 9 1875 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Mapped, edited, and published by the Geological Survey 7.5 MINUTE SERIES (TOPOGRAPHIC) DIVISION OF GEOLOGICAL SURVEY RECEIVED STATE ONTO DEC Interstate 71 at 17th Avenue INT: 2950-75 Location Date Entered Name Brow County Also Notified ENTRIES IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER Kenyon College Fridley-Oman Farm Decatur vicinity Regional Director,Midwest Region Pickaway County Knox County Eon.John M.

Ashbrook Eagle Creek Covered Bridge Director, The Ohio Historical Soclety PR MMOTT: p1 12.10.75 Karey vieinity Dr.Thonas H.Smith Ohio Historic Preservation Office 1985 Velma Avenue Columbus, Ohio 43211 Carol Shul1 W. Ray Luce WRL/DAS: dwm SEP41986 SOCIETY 614/466-1500 Enclosures HISTORICAL recently conducted new research on these structures. State Historic Preservation Officer Sincerely on the National Register.The information has been provided with Department of the Interior National Register of Historic Places the assistance of Miriam Wood, the original form preparer, who has August 28, 1986 Please add these continuation sheets to the appropriate files SINCE 1885 Dear Ms. Shull: P.O. Box 37127 Washington D.C.

20013-7127 Enclosed are updates on twelve covered bridges currently listed - NATIONAL REGISTER DATA SHEET 2 OTHER NAMES: 3 date of entry: 4 county code: ©LOCATION street & number 3 mi. S of Decatur on OH 763 8 ADMINISTRATOR: ONO (D)CONGRESS. DISTRICT 12)SOURCE Of NOMINATION 14) WITHIN NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK? ) ACREAGE DO.YES. NAME.. G CONDITION Odeteriorated Deriginal site 17 features: Dexcellent Omoved 2C NOT INTACT-O Dunexposed - Unknown Ounexcavated 20 NOT APPLICABLE -7 - No Access SAVED?

-YES 21 AREAS OF SIGNIFICANCE : - POLITICS / GOVT.- 21 @CLAIMS: explain CO LAW-16 - RELIGION-22 C SETTLEMENT-29 CARCHEOLOGY- historic-1 - COMMUNICATIONS -7 -EXPLORATION -12 - LITERATURE -17 - SCIENCE- 23 -URBAN PLANNING -31 *oldest' O AGRICULTURE -3 L CONSERVATION - 8 C HEALTH-27 C MILITARY- 18 C ARCHITECTURE-4 CJ ECONOMICS- 9 C INDUSTRY-13 - MUSIC - 19 - SOCIAL / CULTURAL - 30 'only' D - ART-5 D EDUCATION-10 C INVENTION -14 - PHILOSOPHY -20 - TRANSPORTATION -25 23 functions 2 dates of initial construction: major alterations: 1952 25 architectural style(s): 2master bullder: ) engineer: 2landscape architect / garden designer: 1 interior decorator: 3artisan: IF ADDITIONAL SPACE NEEDED, NUMBER & PUT ON REVERSE1 015 Midwest ASSOCIATION Decatur EVENTS: PERSONAL: ENTERTAINMENT-26 historic events: Brown FEDERAL INSTITUTIONAL: CURRENTLY: PRIVATE ORGANIZATION SUBSTANTIALLY INTACT-2 NATIONAL REGISTER WRITE-UP LANDSCAPE ARCH.-15 LOCAL ENGINEERING-11 vicinity of Eagle Creek Covered Bridge(Bowman Covered Bridge) as it appears on federal register: 12-6-75 THIN NATIONAL REGISTER HISTORIC DISTRICT?

Oruins "first' GNPS REGION: city/ town Oreconstructed 19)ADAPTIVE USE DYES CONO IS PROPERTY A HISTORIC DISTRICT? Dyes Dnd -RECREATION -28 -ARCHEOLOGY -prehistoric-2 3artist: 1 builder/contractor: reviewers initials. STATE GROUP COMMERCE-S Dgood WHEN HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT: Dfair if state who prepared form? Oaltered 1872 Dunatered INO