Smith Road Bridge
Why it's listed
Spanning a drainage ditch on Smith Road in Lykens Township, this small bowstring arch truss bridge dates to 1890. It has one span of 41 feet clear, an overall length of 45 feet 6 inches, and a roadway 14 feet wide. Five panels of varying length, vertical hangers and diagonal braces support the deck, and the structure rests on two stone wall abutments. Curved metal S-shaped ornaments extend beyond the trusses at each end. The county's records identify no manufacturer, and no plate is found on the bridge, though the form suggests it may be a King Patent Tubular Arch from the King Iron Bridge and Manufacturing Company of Cleveland, possibly moved to the site in 1890. The bridge is considered the oldest in Crawford County and the only bowstring arch truss there. Its small size, compared with the typical 70 to 175 feet, and its decoration on a minor township road add to its interest. Light traffic has helped keep it in good repair.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it the oldest bridge in Crawford County and the only one in the county built with a bowstring arch truss, giving it significance in transportation and engineering. It is also notable for decorative S-shaped metal designs at the truss ends, unusual on a narrow township road.
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 80002973, listed October 7, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | NW of Bucyrus, Bucyrus |
|---|---|
| County | Crawford County |
| Listed | October 7, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80002973 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1890 |
| Architectural style | Bowstring arch truss |
| Areas of significance | Engineering, Transportation |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed in good condition, unaltered and on its original site; it carries very little traffic and is publicly owned and accessible. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.92700, -83.03556 (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 80002973.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.