Scottown Covered Bridge, Scottown Ohio
The Scottown Covered Bridge was built in 1874 and takes its name from the crossroads community of Scottown one-half mile to the west. The bridge is situated over scenic Indian Guyan Creek just south off SR 217 in eastern Lawrence County. This old bridge is of an unusual type of construction, but we must call it an adaptation of the basic multiple kingpost. It was not at all unusual for builders of these wooden truss bridges to experiment with several different combinations of timber arrangements and then to come up with something which defies accurate description. The marks of the old hand-adze can still be seen on some of the timbers of this bridge. Over the years this bridge has been heavily reinforced with steel rods, gussets, channels, and I-beams that have been added to its wooden trusses. Concrete reinforcements have been added at the bridge seat of the abutments.
The Scottown Covered Bridge lies within the historic Hanging Rock Iron Region and is the last covered bridge in Lawrence County. It is also the southernmost covered bridge in Ohio. Not many covered bridges were built here in Lawrence County and they are fortunate that this unusual example has survived, Unfortunately, we do not know who built this old structure. It is obvious that those who live near the bridge care about it, as indicated by the tulips planted by the south portals.
The Scottown Covered Bridge is in good condition and is an outstanding example of 19th-century engineering skills.
Bridge Description
The bridge is a one-span wooden truss covered bridge spanning Indian Guyan Creek on county road 67 one-half mile east of Scottown in Windsor Township section 13, Lawrence County, Ohio, This bridge has sheet metal siding and roof, stone abutments with concrete reinforcements and straight portals.
The truss type of this bridge has been a matter of some disagreement among truss type experts and the general consensus of opinion is that it is a mongrel or unknown truss type. We feel that it is an adaptation of the basic triangular multiple kingpost with added braces and counterbraces in the center two panels. The bridge also has a three-piece segmented arch on each side of each truss. In addition, the bridge is heavily reinforced with steel channels, gussets, I-beams and rods, both inside and outside the structure. The overall length of this bridge is 88' with a floor-length of 80'. The overall width is 17'4" and the roadway width is 13'3". The height of the trusses is 13'6" and the vertical clearance is 11'. The floor is laid crosswise.
The Scottown Bridge is in good condition. The roof was replaced in 1971 and the roofing company furnished signs for each portal which read "Scottown Bridge, 1874". The abutments of the bridge are the original stone with concrete reinforcements at the bridge seat. We do not know when the original siding, which was undoubtedly wood, was replaced with the present sheet metal.
South portal, east side of bridge, looking northwest (1975)
