COVERED BRIDGES OF UNION COUNTY--

Recently, Sue and I wiggled off the Marysville bypass and headed west on SR 245 enroute to the Ohio Caverns between Bellfontaine and Urbana.  About 6 miles from Marysville and just a chip shot north on the Innskeep-Cratty Rd., we found the Spain Creek covered bridge (above).

It was built in 1870 and spans 64 feet across--you guessed it--Spain Creek, a tributary to Big Darby Creek, well known to Columbus residents.  The windows and side awnings were added prior to the 1930s.

The bridge was rehabilitated in 1988 by constructing a new bridge inside the old overhead.  Large wood girders and floor panels carry today's traffic load.  The old wood trusses carry only their own weight plus the weight of the roof and siding.

About a mile north of Spain Creek there is a second covered bridge (above).  It is the Pottersburg Bridge, sometimes known as the Upper Darby bridge.  It was built in 1868

It was moved to its current location in 2006 and completely renovated to form the beginning of the North Lewisburg bicycle trail.

We did not have our bicycles with us that day so we didn't explore this trail.  It appears to be just a 3.5 mile or thereabouts segment along an abandoned railroad from its location just off the Innskeep-Crotty Rd., west into the village of North Lewisburg.

The cavern story will follow Saturday then next Wednesday we will tell you about Campbell Hill in Bellfontaine, the highest point in Ohio.