Eakin Mill Covered Bridge
Also known as: McLaughlin Bridge; Geer's Mill Bridge
Why it's listed
Spanning Big Raccoon Creek at Arbaugh in Vinton County, Ohio, this covered bridge carries Mound Hill Road about half a mile north of the Appalachian Highway. Gilman and Ward Company of McArthur built it in 1870/71 for $2,200. Its 122-foot frame has a double multiple kingpost truss with a segmented plank arch between the trusses, vertical battened siding, projecting portals, a sheet metal roof and cut-stone abutments. Only a few double multiple kingpost bridges of this kind remain in Ohio. It served a busy mill, first run by the Eakin family, later by Henry Clay Geer and then the McLaughlins, who tore the mill down in 1938. It is one of two covered bridges left over the Raccoon, and local people often call both Geer's Mill Bridge. Steel rods and channels now reinforce it. Truck damage led the county to close it to traffic.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents it as a fine example of a heavily built double multiple kingpost truss with an added plank brace or arch, a type of which only a few remain in Ohio. It is also one of only two covered bridges left over the Raccoon, and it is tied to the local mill and to the Geer family, whose name is shared by both bridges.
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 76001539, listed March 16, 1976. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Mound Hill Rd., Arbaugh |
|---|---|
| County | Vinton County |
| Listed | March 16, 1976 |
| Reference number | 76001539 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1870/71 |
| Architect / builder | Gilman and Ward Company |
| Architectural style | Multiple kingpost truss (double multiple kingpost with plank brace or arch) |
| Areas of significance | Engineering, Transportation |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Closed to traffic by the county after damage from heavy trucks during Appalachian Highway construction; no plans to repair or reopen it. Roof is in good condition and most siding is intact. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 39.17129, -82.33689 (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 76001539.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5325436
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.