Ponn Humpback Covered Bridge, Wilkesville Ohio
Ponn Bridge, with its "humpbacked" construction, is one of the longest and most unusual covered bridges in Ohio. It is one of five covered bridges in Vinton County. One other of them, the Eakin Mill or McLaughlin Bridge, is of similar construction, though shorter in length. However, it has been severely damaged and will probably not be repaired, making the Ponn Bridge even more precious. Its beautiful setting, over Raccoon Creek, is another contribution to its worth.
The Ponn "Humpback" Covered Bridge is located in Wilkesville Township, Geer Road over Raccoon Creek in Vinton County. Most of the information about it originates with the office of James E. Lee, Vinton County Engineer.
The bridge was built by Martin E. McGrath and Lyman Wells, local contractors. It was completed and accepted by the county commissioners in December 1874. It is 165 feet long and 14 feet wide. There are two sandstone piers about twenty-four feet from each end of the bridge, which serve as intermediate supports. The interior architecture is of wooden truss construction with Burr arches, uprights approximately 8 ft. on center. The end bays are of queen-post construction. The slight arch, or hump, of the bridge was apparently for structural, rather than navigational reasons; that is, to allow for a relatively long, uninterrupted span over a relatively deep gorge, rather than to allow additional headroom for boats passing below.
The major repair of the bridge took place in 1938. At this time the Champion Bridge Company of Wilmington, Ohio reinforced the underside of the bridge with a combination of steel channels and angles. These run the entire underside of the bridge on both sides. The entire operation cost $1194 in labor and materials. The steel channels are visible just below the exterior siding, but hardly change the appearance of the bridge. Essentially it must look as it did originally, with allowance for wear and tear. It is functional and cars passing along Geer Road may drive through it.
Exterior (1973)
