Buckeye Furnace Covered Bridge
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Why it's listed
Spanning Little Raccoon Creek on a township road about three miles southeast of Wellston, this single-span wooden covered bridge was built in 1872. It has vertical high-boarded siding, a metal roof, slightly projecting portals and stone abutments. The structure is 68.5 feet long with a 58.5-foot clear span, and it uses a six-panel Smith truss of the type 3 variety, a design patented by Robert W. Smith of Ohio. Trusses of this kind were popular in the state, and the bridge was probably assembled by local labor from pre-fabricated parts. It sits just southwest of Buckeye Iron Furnace, which was built about twenty years earlier and went out of blast in 1894. The bridge gave access to the furnace village from the west and remained in use after the village disappeared. It is considered important as the last such span left near an old iron furnace, within the Wayne National Forest. Its appearance has changed little, and it was painted in 1966.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the bridge is historically important as the last such span left in the vicinity of an old iron furnace. It is also a good example of the Smith truss, a type popular in Ohio, the home of its inventor. The bridge served the Buckeye Furnace village long after the furnace closed in 1894.
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 75001442, listed February 24, 1975. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 3 mi. SE of Wellston on SR 165, Wellston |
|---|---|
| County | Jackson County |
| Listed | February 24, 1975 |
| Reference number | 75001442 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1872 (19th Century) |
| Architect / builder | Truss design patented by Robert W. Smith; probably built by local labor using pre-fabricated trusses |
| Architectural style | Smith truss (6 panel, type 3) covered bridge |
| Areas of significance | Engineering |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in good condition, little changed over the years, and painted in 1966; it continued to serve the area after the furnace closed. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 39.05448, -82.45950 (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 75001442.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q58904048
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.