Martinsville Road Covered Bridge
Why it's listed
This covered wooden bridge carries County Road 14 over the east fork of Todd's Fork, one mile west of Martinsville in Clinton County, Ohio. Zimri Wall built it in 1871, though county records no longer hold its cost or construction details. It is a seven-panel multiple kingpost truss, 78 feet long overall with a clear span of about 68 feet and a 13-foot-6-inch roadway. Steel was added to the floor system and truss panels in 1937, and the east abutment was rebuilt in concrete in 1970. Vertical siding, battens and a metal roof complete the structure, which is painted dark red with white portals. In 1872 Wall, his brother Jonathan and Albert Bailey formed the Champion Bridge Company of Wilmington, which considers this its oldest surviving bridge. It is the last covered bridge wholly within Clinton County and remains in daily use. The truss type was widely used by early Ohio builders.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it an outstanding example of the multiple kingpost truss, a type popular with early Ohio bridge builders. It was built by Zimri Wall, who later helped found the Champion Bridge Company, which regards it as its oldest surviving bridge. It is also the last covered bridge wholly within Clinton County.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 74001421, listed September 10, 1974. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | W of Martinsville, Martinsville |
|---|---|
| County | Clinton County |
| Listed | September 10, 1974 |
| Reference number | 74001421 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1871 |
| Architect / builder | Zimri Wall |
| Architectural style | Multiple kingpost truss (7-panel) covered bridge |
| Areas of significance | Engineering |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in excellent condition and still carrying daily traffic; the east abutment was rebuilt in concrete in 1970. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 39.32986, -83.83493 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 74001421.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q60742719
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.