|
Key Facts |
Bridge Name | Type | Road | Location | City | Crossing |
| Longman Road Bridge | Truss | Longman Road | Preble County, OH | Rural | Sugar Creek |
|
Technical Facts |
Bridge Length | Roadway Width | Builder |
| 43.96 Feet | 15.75 Feet | Unknown (Likely Massillon Bridge and Iron Company of Massillon, OH) |
It is impossible to fully understand the beauty and significance behind this bridge without knowing its true history. Since none is really available, I did some poking around to try to compose a picture of this bridge's place in history. To the best of my knowledge, this bridge was built by the Massillon Bridge Company. I came to this decision by examining a HABS HAER entry for an even older bridge like this one in the city of Massillon, Ohio, and also comparing the structure of this bridge to a Massillon Bridge Company bowstring also in Preble County. Please visit the Junction Road Bridge page for full details on my findings that connects this bridge to the Massillon Bridge Company, and also explains the unusual top chord (which resembles the structure of this bridge) on the bowstrings built by Massillon Bridge Company.
This bridge is along with the Junction Road Bridge, the oldest metal bridge in Preble County. A very small, and innocent looking bridge, the inexperienced bridge enthusiast might turn their nose up at this bridge. A closer look at the rivets as well as the extremely small i-beams under the bridge that compose the floor beams and deck beams testify to the age of the bridge. Preble County at one time must have realized the importance of this bridge, because rather than demolish it, they put large steel beams under the bridge to take over the load-bearing job. However, if they really still care about this bridge, they need to repaint it and do something to help the iron poles that make up the truss, as they have come loose in many places.
