Chambers Road Covered Bridge, Olive Green Ohio
The Chambers Road Bridge was built in 1874 by master bridge-builder Evrett S. Sherman, who came here from New Hampshire. Mr. Sherman worked with other builders on several of the Delaware County covered bridges that we know of, but the Chambers Road Bridge seems to have been done on his own. This is the first known example of the Childs truss. We do not know why Mr. Sherman favored this truss type, but he may have known of it or its inventor in New England. Twelve years later, Mr. Sherman left Delaware County for Preble County, Ohio where he built 15 Childs truss covered bridges.
The Chambers Road Covered Bridge is the last covered bridge in Delaware County and the first known example of the Childs truss. While not in top condition at this time, the trusses seem to be sturdy and in line, and all that is needed are repairs to roof, siding, and abutments. The county is interested in preserving this bridge if an interested local organization can be found to assume responsibility for it.
Bridge Description
The Chambers Bridge is a one-span wooden truss covered bridge spanning Big Walnut Creek 13 miles northeast of Olive Green in Porter Township, Delaware County, Ohio. The siding is vertical, high-boarded, the roof is sheet metal and the abutments were both originally stone laid with mortar.
The Chambers Bridge is built on the Childs truss plan patented in 1846 by Horace Childs of Henniker, Vt. Mr. Childs was related to Col. Stephan Long who patented the Long truss in 1830 and was one of Col. Long's agents in selling the Long truss. Mr. Childs was also a master carpenter. However, as far as can be determined, Mr. Childs never built a bridge using his own truss type. The only Childs trusses to be found are here in Ohio in Delaware and Preble Counties. The Childs truss is basically an improvement on the basic kingpost truss using iron diagonal rods for further strength. In a Childs truss, an iron diagonal runs from the top of one wooden vertical to the base of the next wooden vertical, passing through a hole in the wooden diagonal. The Chambers Bridge also has iron verticals on each side of the wooden verticals. These are a later addition. The Chambers Bridge is a 7-panel Childs truss, 72 long overall; 16' 6" wide overall with a 14' 6" roadway. The wooden verticals are all 6" x 7" and the wooden diagonals are all 4" x 123".
The lower chords are 2-7" x 12" dowelled together. The floor beams are suspended beneath the lower chords on stirrups. The floor is in two layers, laid lengthwise and in need of repairs. The lower chords are reinforced with steel and there is a steel I beam under the trusses on the west end of the bridge. The end diagonals are each covered with a steel channel, obviously a later addition.
The outward appearance of this bridge has changed little over the years. It is unpainted. The siding is missing in places and the metal roof is old and in poor condition. The east abutment was covered with concrete years ago and the west abutment is the original stone, in need of repairs. The portals are sharply projected with horizontal boarding on the lower section and vertical boards on the upper section.
West portal, north side of bridge looking southeast (1974)
View looking up at floor support members and south side of bridge (1974)
