The Butler County Engineer's
Office reports that restoration of the historic Black Covered
Bridge is nearly complete. Crews reconstructed the two trusses,
refurbished the siding and flooring, replaced numerous support
beams, and installed a new roof with cedar shingles.
"All that's left
is to build a new approach on the Corso Road side and shore up
the pier a bit," said Butler County Engineer Dean Foster.
"The existing ramp leading up to the bridge is steep so
we will reduce the slope by extending the ramp outward. Work
on the pier should proceed rapidly since water in the creek bed
is very low right now." The Oxford Museum Association will
landscape around the bridge in the Spring after which they plan
to hold a dedication ceremony.
The County Engineer
was pleased with the way the project has turned out. "I'd
like to commend everyone involved for helping to preserve this
historic treasure --- the Save Our Span Committee, Oxford Museum
Association, the contractor W.M. Brode, and our BCEO staff. It
has turned out to be an excellent project."
Work to rehabilitate
the Oxford Township bridge began in mid-1997 when the Brode Company
of Newcomerstown, Ohio was awarded the construction contract.
Restoration efforts took longer than expected due to unforeseen
damage and difficulty obtaining the special lumber that was required.
Only a few mills, all
located in the South, produce the special cut of lumber needed
to restore the bridge. Logging efforts were severely inhibited
by heavy rains and soggy ground last year at the Louisiana mill
selected to cut the order. Ant
and termite infestations, dry rot, and damage from fire were
also discovered during construction. This damage could not be
detected until the actual bridge members were taken apart.
Butler County Commissioners approved payments to cover the
additional work.
Historical
Review
Built in 1870 and named
Pugh's Mill Bridge, it was originally one of 25 covered bridges
in Butler County. Now known as the Black Bridge, it one of only
two remaining covered bridges in Butler County and is listed
on the National Register of Historic Places. The 206 foot bridge
crossing Four Mile Creek is a Long Truss bridge, utilizing a
truss design patented in the 1830s by Colonel Stephen H. Long.
It was closed to vehicular
traffic in the early 1950s when State Route 732 was improved
and rerouted adjacent to the bridge. The structure was eventually
closed to pedestrians in 1976 due to its increasingly unstable
condition. Though various restoration efforts were ongoing since
1973 with the help of the Oxford Museum Association, by the early
1990s major rehabilitation would be required to save the structure
from eventual collapse.
The Butler County Engineer's
Office began design and engineering and applied for a grant to
help pay for the project. In December 1996, a $226,800 grant
was officially received from ODOT's Transportation Enhancement
Activities program and construction plans were underway. Another
$200,000 grant was received in 1998, and the Oxford Museum Association
also raised matching funds to help pay for the $750,000 project.
Photos of
Rehabilitation Progress and the Completed Project
- Photo
1: Covered
Bridge rehab: After removal of old siding and roof
- Photo
2: Covered
Bridge rehab: Close-up of skeleton bridge
- Photo
3: Covered
Bridge rehab: Setting of falsework
- Photo
4: Covered
Bridge rehab: Dry rot damage
- Photo
5: Covered
Bridge rehab: Roof truss placement
- Photo
6: Covered
Bridge rehab: Rail installation
- Photo
7: Covered
Bridge rehab: Work inside bridge
- Photo
8: Covered
Bridge rehab: General outside view
- Photo
9: Covered
Bridge rehab: Siding installation
- Photo
10: Covered
Bridge rehab: Rooftop view of shingle installation
- Photo
11: Covered
Bridge rehab: Staining
- Photo
12: Covered
Bridge restoration complete
- Photo
13: Covered
Bridge restoration complete
- Photo
14: Covered
Bridge restoration complete
- Photo
15: Covered
Bridge restoration complete
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