Eakin Mill Covered Bridge - Geer's Mill - McLaughlin Bridge, Arbaugh Ohio
This covered bridge is known variously as the Eakin Mill, Geer's Mill or McLaughlin Bridge. The name Eakin Mill is used by the county engineer's office and it comes from the name of the family who operated the mill here when the bridge was built. The name Geer's Mill comes from Henry Clay Geer who bought the mill from the Eakins and operated it for many years. His brother Jacob, ran the mill downstream at the famed Humpback Covered Bridge. At the time when both mills were known as the Geer's Mill, it was decided to call the post office at this site Arbaugh, after a prominent family in the area and to avoid confusion with the other Geer's Mill. It is still called Arbaugh, but only a few families remain here. The McLaughlin Family, who later bought and operated the mill, lived in the house near the bridge. They tore the mill down in 1938. Some of the foundation stones of the mill and part of the wooden foundation of the mill dam can still be seen below the bridge.
The Eakin Mill Bridge is a fine example of a heavily built multiple kingpost truss with added brace or arch. This is not a true Burr arch-truss because the so-called arch is a segmented plank affair, whose ends rest of the lower chords and not into the abutments as is done with the true Burr truss. Most multiple kingpost trusses that were built in Ohio were built using single timbers and only a few of the double multiple kingpost such as this bridge, remain today. There were many mills and covered bridges along the Raccoon in the 1800's. A sturdy bridge was a necessity to reach a mill as busy as Eakin Mill was. Only two of these covered bridges remain over the Raccoon today and it is a coincidence that both were once known as the Geer's Mill Bridge after the brothers who once ran the mills beside them. Many people in the county still call both bridges the Geers Mill Bridge.
Eakin Mill Bridge at Arbaugh is a lovely old structure, arched up above the waters of the scenic Raccoon Creek, quiet and peaceful, yet only one-half mile from the busy Appalachian Highway. Gilman and Ward, well-known contractors from McArthur, built this bridge in 1870/71 for $2,200. Unfortunately, damage from overloaded trucks has retired this bridge from active service to the community, At one time, the trustees of Vinton Township hoped to get the bridge and build a rural park around it, but the county has so far refused to relinquish ownership and has no plans to repair and reopen the bridge.
Bridge Description
The Eakin Mill Covered Bridge is a one-span wooden truss covered bridge spanning the Big Raccoon Creek at Arbaugh, Vinton Township, in eastern Vinton County, Ohio on Mound Hill Road about one-half mile north of the Appalachian Highway. This old span has vertical, high-boarded. siding finished with battens, a sheet metal roof, projected portals and cut-stone abutments.
This bridge is known as the Eakin Mill, Geer's Mill or McLaughlin Bridge. It was built in 1870/71 by Gilman and Ward Company of McArthur. They used a heavy, double multiple kingpost truss plan with a 7" x 4" plank brace (or arch) between the double trusses. The kingpost truss has been known since early times. It consists of a center or kingpost which is in tension, and diagonals, which are in compression, This triangular form has been the basis of many more sophisticated truss types. Eakin Mill Bridge is a 14-panel double multiple kingpost with upper and lower chords in three sections. The truss uprights are all 6½" x 6½" except for the center king post which is 6½" x 8". The diagonals and end posts are also all 6½" x 6½". The hand-hewn trusses are bolted together with steel bolts. The floor is laid in two layers, the bottom layer is laid on the diagonal and the upper layer is laid lengthwise. These floor layers rest on the joists, which in turn, rest on the lower chords. The overall length of the bridge is 122' with a floor length of 112'. The bridge is 18' wide overall with a roadway width of 14'4". A steel tension rod with turn-buckles has Been added on each end of the bridge at the second truss panel and these rods extend from upper to lower chords Steel tension rods with turnbuckles also are suspended from steel gussets at the top of the end posts and extend down to the base of the center kingpost.
Both upper and lower chords have been reinforced with steel channels. The base of the east abutment has been reinforced with concrete. The entire bridge has a pronounced camber giving it a Humpback appearance. Eakin Mill Covered Bridge presents much the same appearance today as it did one hundred years ago. The present sheet metal roof has undoubtedly replaced one of shingles. Cribbing has been placed under the bridge for added support. Heavy trucks used in the construction of the Appalachian Highway damaged the bridge and the county closed it. It remains closed and there are no plans to repair or re-open it at this time. The roof is in good condition and most of the siding is still intact.
West portal, north side, looking southeast (1975)
