The Oldest Covered Bridge Near Cleveland Has Been Around Since 1831
By Nikki Rhoades|Published March 22, 2020
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Nikki Rhoades
Author
Nikki is a lifelong Ohioan with a love for literature. She holds a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Akron and has enjoyed publishing her written work since 2007. She has a love of travel and does so frequently, though she believes that home is where the heart is — she continues to work in and around Cleveland as a digital content specialist to this day, working on everything from commercial scripts and social media posts to grassroots marketing initiatives.
If you’ve never seen a covered bridge in Ohio, then you are missing out on a certain sort of beauty that’s well worth admiring. There’s a sort of simplicity about them, and they’re honestly marvels of engineering in their own right. The cover on these bridges prolongs their lifespan to five times that of an uncovered bridge, and the oldest covered bridge near Cleveland is nearly 200 years old. It’s located about an hour away in Trumbull County, and it’s the last remaining bridge in the immediate area. While Ashtabula County has more bridges than you can count on both hands, they’re something of an oddity outside of the immediate district… and they’re so worth seeing in person.
Believe it or not, this bridge was already over 100 years old when this photo was snapped in 1936.
The Eaton bridge, the Roberts Covered Bridge, is just barely older than its competitor in Newton Falls. The really interesting thing about the Eaton bridge is that it has been moved from its original location, and though it is still spanning the same creek, it is now in a public park.
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It spans the east branch of the mighty Mahoning River, and at 123 feet long, it's a delight to walk across.
The Mahoning River flows from Pennsylvania into Ohio and, though it doesn't quite approach the Greater Cleveland area, it's certainly not too far from home. All sorts of native fish live here -- in fact, there are 70 types of fish in these waters!
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And yes, you can walk across it. A covered crosswalk for pedestrians was added in 1921.
Rumor has it that this covered walkway was introduced for the benefit of children heading over to the school on Center Street. Visitors to this historic site can still take the same path as hopeful Ohioans nearly a century ago.
This pretty place was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974; a well-deserved honor considering it is the oldest Ohio bridge still in its original location.
This magnificent lattice bridge is truly a testament to the power of engineering. Its well-designed structure has allowed it to withstand floods, strong winds, tornadoes, and nearly two centuries of nasty storms.
While there is all sorts of historic charm to be found here, you'll find that the town the bridge is situated in is every bit as romantic.
Newton Falls is a charming city of just under 5,000 residents, and it is perhaps most famous locally for its zip code: 44444. The town was named for both its first school teacher and two sets of waterfalls, each located on a different branch of the Mahoning River.
Though it may look impressively modern, this 16-foot-wide roadway offers visitors a trip through time.
It's interesting to wonder if early visitors to this bridge would still recognize it with its chic white paint. To this day, local residents cherish this landmark as something they grew up with.
This local landmark is truly something worth cherishing.
As the oldest covered bridge near Cleveland, this incredible landmark is well worth the drive. Plus, the landscape on the way there is absolutely mesmerizing! Have you ever taken a road trip to an Ohio covered bridge or two? Tell us about it in the comments!
