Bright, John, Covered Bridge
Why it's listed
Spanning Poplar Creek on Township Road 263 southwest of Baltimore, Ohio, this 74-foot covered bridge was built in 1881 by Aug Borneman and Sons for $993.75. Its truss is highly unusual. Wooden end posts and five verticals carry an inverted steel eye-bar suspension arch, with a wooden arch set into the stone abutments, which have concrete reinforcements. Steel rods run down to the floor beams, and there is no lower chord. The bridge has high board-and-batten siding, a metal roof and straight portals, and its roadway is 13 feet 4 inches wide. The floor has two layers, one laid diagonally and one lengthwise. Borneman was linked to the Hocking Valley Bridge Works, which also built a nearby steel inverted-arch suspension bridge, so this one is called John Bright Bridge #2. The name comes from the Bright family, early settlers who owned much of the surrounding land. The bridge was listed for its engineering and transportation significance and remains in good condition.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls the bridge an outstanding example of 19th century engineering skills. Its truss is unusual: a wooden and steel combination with an inverted eye-bar suspension arch, and it is difficult even for covered bridge experts to describe. It is also described as an attractive bridge in a scenic setting that is well worthy of preservation.
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 75001393, listed May 28, 1975. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 2.5 mi. SW of Baltimore over Poplar Creek, Baltimore |
|---|---|
| County | Fairfield County |
| Listed | May 28, 1975 |
| Reference number | 75001393 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1881 (19th century) |
| Architect / builder | Aug Borneman and Sons (Hocking Valley Bridge Works) |
| Areas of significance | Engineering, Transportation |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as being in good condition, recently painted red, and still in use for traffic over Poplar Creek. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 39.83062, -82.67305 (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 75001393.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q82749451
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.