Newton Falls Covered Bridge
Why it's listed
Carrying traffic over the east branch of the Mahoning River in Newton Falls, Ohio, this three-span wooden covered bridge dates to 1831. It is 123 feet long with a 101.67-foot clear span, a 16-foot roadway and a sidewalk on the south side. Its vertical siding runs nearly to the eaves, the roof is metal, and the abutments are stone. The structure uses the Town lattice truss, patented in 1820 by Ithiel Town, in which crisscrossed planks are pinned together with oiled wooden treenails. The bridge ranks as the second oldest covered bridge in Ohio, and only 11 Town lattice bridges remained in the state. It is also one of few village bridges left, the only Ohio covered bridge with a sidewalk, and the last covered bridge in Trumbull County. Piers were added in 1943 and again in 1963 after a closure for weakened supports. It remains in everyday use, closed only to trucks.
Significance in brief: The bridge is described as the second oldest covered bridge in Ohio and an outstanding example of the Town lattice truss, one of the earliest American bridge truss types. Only 11 Town lattice truss bridges remained in Ohio. It is one of the few remaining village bridges, the only Ohio covered bridge with a sidewalk, and the last covered bridge in Trumbull County.
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 74001636, listed October 16, 1974. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Off OH 534, Newton Falls |
|---|---|
| County | Trumbull County |
| Listed | October 16, 1974 |
| Reference number | 74001636 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 19th Century (specific date 1831) |
| Architectural style | Town lattice truss covered bridge |
| Areas of significance | Engineering |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed in good condition, altered, on its original site; open to all but truck traffic. Piers and a new floor were added after a closure from July 1962 to March 1963. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.18801, -80.97131 (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 74001636.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q58904035
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.