Harra Covered Bridge
Why it's listed
Harra Covered Bridge is a single-span wooden covered bridge on township road 172, about two miles northwest of Watertown, Ohio, crossing the south branch of Wolf Creek. Built about 1875 by William Meredith of Marietta and his sons, it uses the Long truss plan, a ten-panel design with vertical board siding, a metal roof that replaced slate, and cut-stone abutments quarried on the nearby Harrah farm. The bridge is about 100 feet long and has a three-layer floor. Its name comes from the Harrah family, who owned that farm. Before it was built, travelers forded Wolf Creek about a mile downstream, which was difficult and dangerous at high water. The Long truss was patented in 1830 and was popular until the Howe truss displaced it around 1840. The nomination notes that this is one of only eight Long trusses remaining in Ohio. A later update credits a different builder and a date of 1878, and reports the bridge has since been by-passed.
Significance in brief: It is a surviving example of the Long truss, patented in 1830 and considered the first panel truss to use mathematical calculation. The form says it is one of only eight Long trusses left in Ohio. It also replaced a difficult creek ford and is described as a scenic, little-altered span still in good condition.
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 76001547, listed October 8, 1976. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 2 mi. NW of Watertown on SR 172, Watertown |
|---|---|
| County | Washington County |
| Listed | October 8, 1976 |
| Reference number | 76001547 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | about 1875 |
| Architect / builder | William Meredith and Sons (William Meredith with sons Alta and Charlie); stonework by Billy Gamble. A 1986 update gives Rolla Merydith as builder in 1878, with stonework by Welker and Scott of Gallia County. |
| Architectural style | Long truss covered bridge |
| Areas of significance | Engineering, Transportation |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The original form describes it as in good condition and still carrying daily traffic; a 1986 update says the bridge is now by-passed. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 39.48786, -81.64778 (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 76001547.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5663766
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.