Nomination for Dean Road Bridge

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

Form No. 10-300 (Rev. 10-74) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE AUG 1 1 1978 NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES NOV 2 8 1978 INVENTORY -- NOMINATION FORM SEE INSTRUCTIONS IN HOW TO COMPLETE NATIONAL REGISTER FORMS TYPE ALL ENTRIES - COMPLETE APPLICABLE SECTIONS AND/OR COMMON STREET & NUMBER NOT FOR PUBLICATION CITY. TOWN CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT - VICINITY OF PRESENT USE DISTRICT -WORK IN PROGRESS _PRIVATE RESIDENCE PUBLIC ACQUISITION _IN PROCESS - YES: UNRESTRICTED BEING CONSIDERED OWNER OF PROPERTY LOCATION OF LEGAL DESCRIPTION REGISTRY OF DEEDS,ETC. 226 Middle Avenue REPRESENTATION IN EXISTING SURVEYS DEPOSITORY FOR SURVEY RECORDS 039 LOCATION CODE STATE OBJECT DATE NAME TITLE Lorain ACCESSIBLE SITE BOTH INDUSTRIAL RELIGIOUS CATEGORY GOVERNMENT HISTORIC COUNTY Ohio CLASSIFICATION Elyria OWNERSHIP COURTHOUSE.

AGRICULTURE PRIVATE STATUS Lorain County Regional Planning Commission RECEIVED Donald J. Pease Lorain County Administration Building OTHER: June 1976 BUILDING(S) Dean Road Bridge _TRANSPORTATION _EDUCATIONAL DATE ENTERED Lorain County Engineer, Hadaway Street Ohio Historic Inventory - UNOCCUPIED SCIENTIFIC _ENTERTAINMENT - COMMERCIAL _STRUCTURE _MILITARY _PUBLIC _MUSEUM FOR NPS USE ONLY _PARK Lorain County and Erie County 7 DESCRIPTION CHECK ONE X_ORIGINAL SITE X ALTERED DESCRIBE THE PRESENT AND ORIGINAL (IF KNOWN) PHYSICAL APPEARANCE

Description of the property

road is a lightly traveled township road that crosses the river in a heavily wooded and largely un- bridge is built up approximately to the height of the shale cliff on the other side of the river with a valley, where the road ascends a long, steep snake-like course up the valley wall. The Vermilion The bridge structure itself is a box-shaped truss, known as a double intersection Pratt truss. It that is 15.4 feet wide.The maximum height of the bridge is 15.8 feet, and the roadway of the bridge to be level from the top of the shale cliff. The bridge has been maintained over the years, but nevertheless is in a somewhat deteriorated condi- tion, with signs of rust present. Recent improvements to the bridge include the replacement of two sections of roadway at the ends of the bridge and replacement of some road supports.

The abütments CONDITION MOVEDDATE River in this area is heavily wooded and largely unspoiled by man-made intrusions, making the area DETERIORATED flooring, but the rest of the structure is metal, probably rolled iron. The bridge is ten bays long, hav- UNALTERED EXCELLENT have also undergone strengthening with steel plates.However , it is apparent that there are missing slope abruptly terminates in a fity-foot shale cliff, with the river immediately below. The south ward. This enabled a northern bridge abutment of a lesser height to be built than if the bridge were ing eight cross beams supporting the roadway, which in turn are supported by the truss structure. flood plain and is only a few feet higher than the river itself. As a result, the north abutment of the elements of the structure and more work will be necessary to completely stabilize the bridge, which is quite scenic.

spoiled area. The road approaches the river from the south by curving down a wooded hillside. This An unusual feature of this bridge is its inclining roadway. The bridge structure itself is level, but north end, it was decided to incline the roadway so that the bridge inclines downward as it goes north- sandstone wall and earth fill.The north abutment carries the road down from the bridge to the river structure is 41 feet above the average level of the river. The roadbed itself is made up of wood strip has a clear span of 171 feet from abutment to abutment. The bridge is 18.8 feet wide, with a roadway presently open to traffic.

due to the situation of the shale cliff at the south end with no corresponding natural feature at the The Dean Road Bridge is a metal truss structure that spans the Vermilion River at Dean Road.The - UNEXPOSED XFAIR -GOOD abutment of the bridge is set into this shale cliff. The north bank of the Vermilion River lies in the DATE. -RUINS AREAS OF

Statement of significance

This bridge is an excellent example of turn of the century metal truss bridges that were constructed throughout this region.Increased traffic loads and deterioration have taken their toll on these bridges clined roadway isa unique feature that makes this bridge of special interest. Its attractive, largely The Massillon Bridge Company of Massillon, Ohio, wasa leading producer of bridges in Ohio and structures that could be easily assembled. These bridges are elegant in that they clearly express their structure, but manage to do so in a man- The Dean Road Bridge still serves the purpose for which it was built, to connect two ends of this light ART EDUCATION distinction.

PERIOD CONSERVATION THEATER in bridge technology by providing local governments with relatively inexpensive, reliable, sturdy ARCHITECTURE BUILDER/ARCHITECT TRANSPORTATION AGRICULTURE SIGNIFICANCE SCULPTURE of truss bridges of this type by the Massillon Bridge Company and others represented a breakthrough LITERATURE at the factory and then brought out to the site where they were quickly assembled. The development MILITARY ner that creates much visual interest. They represent a high level of craftsmanship and engineering. closed. Thus, preservation of this bridge is important not only from an historic and aesthetic standpoint, in Lorain County. However, this bridge is more than just another example of a truss bridge.

Its in- SOCIAL/HUMANITARIAN _EXPLORATION/SETTLEMENT Massillon Bridge Company XINDUSTRY _POLITICS/GOVERNMENT natural setting, plus its high degree of craftsmanship and ornamentation give this bridge added _PREHISTORIC traveled townshiproad.lt is a convenience to have this structure remain open, but the tremendous re- -1400-1499 -COMMUNICATIONS but froma functional standpoint as well. placement cost that a new bridge would entail could not be justified for this road and it would have to be -1500-1599 -1600-1699 - ECONOMICS -1700-1799 _RELIGION _SCIENCE -COMMERCE -1900- to the point where few exist today. The Dean Road Bridge is now the only box truss bridge of its type constructed many spans throughout the state. The parts for this and other bridges were manufactured 1898 LAW - INVENTION

The rest of the file

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

MAJOR BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES 10 GEOGRAPHICAL DATA UTM REFERENCES VERBAL BOUNDARY DESCRIPTION LIST ALL STATES AND COUNTIES FOR PROPERTIES OVERLAPPING STATE OR COUNTY BOUNDARIES 11 FORM PREPARED BY NAME / TITLE Steven McQuillin, planner April 1978 STREET & NUMBER 21 Turner Block, Court Street (216) 322-4725 CITY OR TOWN 12 STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICER CERTIFICATION NATIONAL - As the designated State Historic Preservation Officer for the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (Public Law 89-665). I hereby nominate this property for inclusion in the National Register and certify that it has been evaluated according to the criteria and procedures set forth by the National Park Service. STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICER SIGNATURE FOR NPS USE ONLY ATTEST C GPO 892-453 CODE ORGANIZATION DATE COUNTY NORTHING Ohio STATE structures.

TELEPHONE LOCAL The nominated property includes the bridge structure, abutments and approaches along either side of conservation of these adjoining natural areas is crucial to safeguarding the environment of the bridge Lorain County Engineer's Office, Plans and Specifications for the Dean Road Bridge, 1969. Dean Road. While the nominated property does not include private property near this bridge, the American Association for State and Local History, Nashville, Tenn., 1977.

ZONE EASTING Lorain County Regional Plahning Commission Historic American Engineering Truss Types:A Guide to Dating and Identifying" ACREAGE OF NOMINATED PROPERTY less than one "Elyria I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS PROPERTY IS INCLUDED IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER A17J B18,715,0,0 THE EVALUATED SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS PROPERTY WITHIN THE STATE IST ZONE [4.517,8115.0] 11:24-78 Photos _ NOW 2 8 1978 National Register Write-up Send-back _ OTHER Entered KEEPER ARCHEOLOGIST CONTROL Maps TECHNICAL Re-submit HISTORIAN 78002119 Federal Register Entry ARCHITECTURAL HISTORIAN State BRANCH CHIEF United States Department of the Interior National Park Service WAso No.7 INT:2106 - 74 HAER Property 1227 Working Number 8.11. 28.

38 4(4 DK8.15.28 1) Dean Road Bridge Henrietta Township (near Vermilion, Ohio) : 4) April 1978 6) Side view of bridge, looking east 7) DRB - 1 NOV 2 8 1978 AUG 11 1978 5) Lorain County Regional Planning Commission 3) Steven McQuillin 3) Steven McQuillin View of south end, looking north 7) DRB - 2 INOV 2 8 1978 AUG 11 1978 Dean Road Bridge April 1978 5) Lorain County Regional Planning Commission Henrietta Township (near Vermilion, Ohio) KIPTON QUADRANGLE DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR STATE OF OHIO 12 MINUTE SERIES (TOPOGRAPHIC2 Easting - 387500 DEPARTMENT OF HIGHWAYS ROAD CLASSIFICATION GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OHIO DIVISION OF GEOLOGICAL SURVEY STATE OHIO Date Entered NOV 2 8 1978 Lorain County Drake, Alonzo, House Honorable Howard M. Metzenbaum Dr. Thomas H.

Smith Columbus, Ohio 43211 Byers/bjr Location 12/6/78 Director Name Stony Ridge Dean Road Bridge South Amherst vicinity Wood County Cuyahoga County Empire House Also Notified East Cleveland Honorable Louis Stokes State Historic Preservation Officer Honorable Delbert L. Latta The Ohio Historical Society Oakwood First Church of Christ in Euclid Honorable Donald J. Pease Interstate 7l at 17th Avenue Honorable Charles A. Vanik ENTRIES IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER Honorable John H. Glenn, Jr. 2 OTHER NAMES: 3) date of entry: NOV 2 8 1978 (12) SOURCE OF NOMINATION - deteriorated Doriginal site Oruins Omoved EO NOT INTACT-O Ounexposed - - Unknown -unexcavated ZO NOT APPLICABLE-8 - No Access IS PROPERTY A HISTORIC DISTRICT?

Dyes Ono - AREAS OF SIGNIFICANCE : - LANDSCAPE ARCH.- 15 - POLITICS / GOVT.- 21 -RECREATION -28 OCLAIMS: explain "first'O CARCHEOLOGY - prehistoric -2 -COMMERCE -6 - LAW - 16 - RELIGION- 22 C SETTLEMENT-29 -ARCHEOLOGY- historic-1 - COMMUNICATIONS-7 CEXPLORATION - 12 - LITERATURE - 17 - SCIENCE- 23 'oldest' D D AGRICULTURE -3 - CONSERVATION - 8 C HEALTH-27 - MILITARY - 18 - ARCHITECTURE-4 - ECONOMICS-9 - INDUSTRY - 13 - MUSIC - 19 - SOCIAL / CULTURAL - 30 - ART-5 - EDUCATION-10 - INVENTION - 14 - PHILOSOPHY - 20 - TRANSPORTATION - 25 2functions major alterations : @architectural style(s): landscape architect / garden designer: ) interior decorator: EVENTS : Lorain CONDITION ASSOCIATION Midwest date FEDERAL PERSONAL: South Amherst ENGINEERING-11 ENTERTAINMENT-26 STATE INSTITUTIONAL: artisan: CURRENTLY: builder/contractor: historic events: SUBSTANTIALLY INTACT-1 master builder: WHEN HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT: URBAN PLANWING-31 LOCAL Dean Road Bridge PRIVATE ORGANIZATION dates of initial construction: vicinity of Dexcellent ADMINISTRATOR: NATIONAL REGISTER WRITE-UP NATIONAL REGISTER DATA SHEET county code: as it appears on federal register: NPS REGION: Dfeatures: SAVED?

YES NAME -SOCIAL/HUMANITARIAN-24 OTHER (SPECIFY) 'only' D reviewers initials IF ADDITIONAL SPACE NEEDED. NUMBER& PUT ON REVERSE @architeot: 093 ETHNIC GROUP artist: UNKNOWN-4 engineer: Dunaltered give role & date if state who prepared form? W of South Amherst at Dean Rd.& Vermilion Ave.Kue Ofair