Christman Covered Bridge
Why it's listed
Seven Mile Creek is crossed northwest of Eaton, Ohio, by a one-span covered bridge built in 1895 and known as the Christman Bridge. It is an 11-panel Childs truss, 100 feet long overall with an 84-foot clear span, vertical board siding, a metal roof, cut blue limestone abutments and projecting portals. Builder Evrett S. Sherman moved to Preble County in 1886, after a great storm destroyed many bridges, and built at least twenty covered bridges there. The Childs truss, patented in 1846, is a rare type that uses iron rods as counterbraces, and the nomination says Sherman was the only person to use it. This bridge was his next-to-last and a late date for covered bridge construction in Ohio. It is named for Solomon Christman, a local landowner who ran a sawmill downstream. Repairs over the years include new floor beams and stirrups in the 1920s, new lower chords in 1960-61, and an aluminum roof added in 1961.
Significance in brief: It is a rare, late example of a Childs truss covered bridge, a type Sherman is said to have been the only builder to use. It was among the many spans he built in Preble County after the storm of 1886. The nomination also credits it as an outstanding example of Sherman's skill and of the county's maintenance.
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 76001516, listed October 22, 1976. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1.5 mi. NW of Eaton on SR 12, Eaton |
|---|---|
| County | Preble County |
| Listed | October 22, 1976 |
| Reference number | 76001516 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1895 |
| Architect / builder | Evrett S. Sherman |
| Areas of significance | Engineering, Transportation |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Owned by Preble County and in use as a bridge; described as having received excellent maintenance and presenting much the same outward appearance as always. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 39.77033, -84.65546 (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 76001516.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5111243
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.