Dean Road Bridge
Why it's listed
Dean Road Bridge carries a lightly traveled township road over the Vermilion River in a wooded, largely unspoiled area west of South Amherst, Ohio. Built in 1898 by the Massillon Bridge Company, it is a double intersection Pratt box truss with a clear span of 171 feet, a wood strip deck and a metal structure, probably rolled iron. The bridge is level, but its roadway slopes downward to the north, because the south abutment sits on a fifty-foot shale cliff while the north bank lies in the flood plain. This inclined roadway is a rare feature. The bridge is the only box truss of its type remaining in Lorain County. Its parts were made at the factory and assembled quickly on site, giving local governments an inexpensive, sturdy structure. Repairs have replaced road sections and strengthened the abutments. Rust and missing elements remain, but the bridge is open to traffic and still connects the two ends of the road.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it an excellent example of turn-of-the-century metal truss bridges and the only box truss bridge of its type left in Lorain County. Its inclined roadway is a unique feature. Its craftsmanship, ornamentation and largely natural setting add to its distinction, and it represents the Massillon Bridge Company's prefabricated truss technology.
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 78002119, listed November 28, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | W of South Amherst at Dean Rd. and Vermilion River, South Amherst |
|---|---|
| County | Lorain County |
| Listed | November 28, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78002119 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1898 |
| Architect / builder | Massillon Bridge Company |
| Architectural style | Double intersection Pratt box truss |
| Areas of significance | Engineering |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Maintained but somewhat deteriorated, with signs of rust and some missing elements; open to traffic and still serving its original purpose. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.34895, -82.34462 (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 78002119.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q55284715
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.