Bowman Mill Covered Bridge
Also known as: Rush Creek Covered Bridge; Readington Covered Bridge
Why it's listed
This wooden covered bridge carries Winegardner Road over Rush Creek about one mile south of New Reading, Perry County, Ohio. It has two spans, a metal roof, vertical board siding, cut-stone abutments and a stone center pier that was added later, probably after originally being built as a single span. The trusses are a six-panel multiple kingpost design with an open center panel, and slightly arched chords give the bridge a humpback profile. The overall length is 81 feet. The bridge is associated with a 19th-century milling center, where the Bowman family ran grist and saw mills just north of the crossing. Its builder is said to have been Lank Bowman, and it dates to about 1880. It was an important link in the local transportation system when the mills were active and remains in daily use. In 1975 the county painted it red, white and blue with stars and the dates 1776-1976 on the portals.
Significance in brief: The bridge sits at what was a busy 19th-century milling center and was part of the area's transportation system when the Bowman family's grist and saw mills flourished. It is one of several Ohio covered bridges with arched chords giving a pronounced camber. It is still in daily use and valued locally.
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 78002169, listed February 8, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | S of New Reading on Sr 86, New Reading |
|---|---|
| County | Perry County |
| Listed | February 8, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78002169 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | c.1880 |
| Architect / builder | Lank Bowman (supposedly, per the Southern Ohio Covered Bridge Association) |
| Architectural style | Multiple kingpost truss covered bridge with open center panel |
| Areas of significance | Engineering, Transportation |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | In good condition, well maintained and still in daily use, carrying light traffic; repainted red, white and blue in fall 1975 for the Bicentennial. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 39.79812, -82.36098 (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 78002169.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q58904045
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.