Zoarville Bridge
Also known as: Old SR-212 Bridge; Tus-8-5; Dover River Bridge
Why it's listed
Spanning Conotton Creek in a rural setting near Zoarville, this 108-foot iron bridge was built in 1868 by Smith, Latrobe and Company of Baltimore as part of the three-span Factory Street Bridge in Canal Dover. When that crossing was replaced in 1905, this span was moved to its present site, where it replaced a covered bridge. It was abandoned in the early 1940s after State Route 212 was relocated. The structure is a modified Fink through truss, built with hollow wrought-iron Phoenix columns, cast-iron joint boxes and adjustable foot boxes. Restrained ornament includes dentils and a Tudor-arch portal. It is the only standing Fink through truss bridge known in the United States, and the only surviving bridge by its builder and by company president Charles Shaler Smith, a noted engineer. Its deck is badly deteriorated and is periodically flooded by operation of the Dover Dam.
Significance in brief: It is the only known standing Fink through truss bridge in the United States and the sole surviving bridge built by Smith, Latrobe and Company. It is also the only surviving work of company president Charles Shaler Smith, a prominent bridge engineer. It qualifies as a moved property because of its engineering value.
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 97000199, listed March 13, 1997. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Across the Conotton Cr., E of jct. of OH 212 and OH 800, Zoarville |
|---|---|
| County | Tuscarawas County |
| Listed | March 13, 1997 |
| Reference number | 97000199 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1868-1946 |
| Architect / builder | Smith, Latrobe & Company; Baltimore |
| Architectural style | Other: Fink through truss |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Engineering |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Not in use; abandoned in the early 1940s after State Route 212 was relocated. Condition is deteriorating, with a largely rotted plank deck and rusted post webs, and it is periodically flooded by Dover Dam operations. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.57729, -81.39138 (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.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 97000199.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q113846197
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.