Ohio State Route 51 Bridge Over the Portage River
Also known as: Structure No. 6201202
Why it's listed
Carrying Ohio State Route 51 over the Portage River at Elmore, this reinforced concrete bridge was built in 1926 and 1927 for $50,000. It has three closed spandrel arches, a total length of 282 feet and a 30-foot roadway. Its piers are anchored in limestone bedrock at a historic crossing with shallow rapids, and rounded pier bases guide water and ice. Concrete railings with beveled edges rest on open balustrades of modified Gothic design. The bridge was designed by David Henry Overman, who later became Chief Engineer of Bridges for Ohio. It is one of four surviving bridges from his first year of bridge design, and two of the others were scheduled for replacement, leaving this one as the best example of his earliest and most intricate work. Its original concrete railings are unusual for the period. Although scarred, it remains structurally sound. Original lantern posts were replaced around 1965 and the sidewalks were altered in the mid-1930s.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues significance under Criterion C in the area of Engineering as one of the earliest bridges designed by David Henry Overman, an Ohio bridge engineer noted for artistry in bridge design. It is described as one of four remaining bridges from his first year of bridge design, and the only one expected to remain of his earliest, most intricate work. It also retains its original concrete railings.
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 94000239, listed March 17, 1994. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | OH 51 over the Portage R., Elmore |
|---|---|
| County | Ottawa County |
| Listed | March 17, 1994 |
| Reference number | 94000239 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1926-1927 |
| Architect / builder | Architect: Overman, David Henry; Builder: Gluss Brothers, Hamilton, OH |
| Architectural style | OTHER: closed spandrel concrete arch |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Engineering |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as scarred but still structurally sound; the highway department had marked areas for repair in 1993 photographs. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.47703, -83.29557 (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 94000239.
- 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.