Byer Covered Bridge
Why it's listed
Spanning Pigeon Creek at Byer in Jackson County, Ohio, this single-span wooden covered bridge was built in the early 1870s. It has vertical high-boarded siding, a sheet metal roof, concrete abutments and projecting portals. The structure is a seven-panel Smith truss, with a 74-foot floor and an overall length of 82 feet. Its floor is made of diagonally laid oak planks. The Smith truss was patented in 1867 and 1869 by Robert W. Smith, and this bridge is classed as type 3, with a reinforced center panel. It was probably supplied by the Smith Bridge Company, and one source names W. H. Connery as builder. Fifteen Smith truss bridges remain in Ohio, and this is one of only three covered spans left in Jackson County. The bridge was built when coal was important locally and nearby Richland Iron Furnace was still operating. It remains in good condition, painted white like many houses in the village.
Significance in brief: The bridge is an example of the Smith truss, patented by Robert W. Smith of Tipp City, later Toledo, Ohio, and is one of only fifteen Smith truss bridges remaining in Ohio. It is one of only three covered spans left in Jackson County. It is also tied to the area's industrial history of coal and the Hanging Rock Iron Region.
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 75001441, listed October 21, 1975. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | SR 31, Byer |
|---|---|
| County | Jackson County |
| Listed | October 21, 1975 |
| Reference number | 75001441 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 19th Century (early 1870's) |
| Architect / builder | Probably the Smith Bridge Company; one source says W. H. Connery was the builder; truss designed by Robert W. Smith |
| Architectural style | Smith truss, type 3 (one-span wooden covered bridge) |
| Areas of significance | Engineering |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition described as good; painted white inside and out; owned by Jackson County and part of the county road system. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 39.17952, -82.63110 (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 75001441.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q58904033
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.