Harshman Covered Bridge
Why it's listed
Carrying Concord-Fairhaven Road over Four Mile Creek north of Fairhaven, this single-span covered bridge was built in 1894 by Evrett S. Sherman. It has vertical high-boarded siding, a metal roof, cut blue limestone abutments and projecting portals. The 12-panel Childs truss is 109 feet long and uses iron rods as counterbraces, an idea that was new when Horace Childs patented the design in 1846. Sherman, like Childs a native of New Hampshire, came to Preble County after the great storm of 1886 and was awarded contracts to rebuild wrecked bridges. The bridge is named for John Harshman, whose farm adjoined the site and who asked the county to reroute the road and span the creek. It is the longest covered bridge in the county. Repairs over the years included stronger floor-beam stirrups, added oak beams, a new roof in 1961 and repainting, and its appearance remains much as built.
Significance in brief: It is the longest covered bridge in Preble County and a relatively rare example of the Childs truss, patented in 1846 by Horace Childs of New Hampshire. It is the work of bridge builder E. S. Sherman, who rebuilt many county bridges after the 1886 storm. It also reflects local road history, since the county built the road and bridge at the request of farmer John Harshman.
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 76001517, listed September 29, 1976. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 4 mi. N of Fairhaven on Concord-Fairhaven Rd. spanning Four Mile Creek, Fairhaven |
|---|---|
| County | Preble County |
| Listed | September 29, 1976 |
| Reference number | 76001517 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1894 |
| Architect / builder | Evrett S. Sherman |
| Architectural style | Childs truss covered bridge (12-panel) |
| Areas of significance | Engineering, Transportation |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in excellent condition with excellent maintenance, and still in use on a heavily traveled north-south road; owned by Preble County. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 39.70257, -84.76948 (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 76001517.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5673915
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.