Eldean in Miami County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Eldean Covered Bridge
Photographed By Craig Doda, September 14, 2019
1. Eldean Covered Bridge Marker
Inscription.
Eldean Covered Bridge. . , Eldean Bridge is the only covered bridge left of about 30 that once crossed Miami County streams. The bridge, built in 1860, is one of Ohio's oldest. With a deck length of 222 feet, it is also the state's second longest covered bridge.
Early farmers used the bridge to carry grain to Allen's Mill, later called the Eldean Mill, which stood west of the bridge. The bridge carried Eldean Road until bypassed in 1963.
In 1860 the Miami County Commissioners hired brothers James and William Hamilton to build the bridge. They were paid $1,337 to build the stone substructure, and $2,632 to build the wooden spans.
The Commissioners specified that a Long Truss be used to support the bridge, so named for its inventor Stephen Long, rather than for the span's great length. Eldean Bridge is the longest Long Truss in existence. Its timbers are white pine, a light but reasonably strong species not native to the area. The timbers were cut in Michigan and floated to the site via the Miami and Erie Canal, which passed nearby. Stones for the abutments and pier probably came from a quarry the Hamiltons owned near Piqua.
Over the years decayed timbers have been reinforced and the bridge was raised 15” to better clear floods. Yet the bridge's appearance and structural behavior have changed little from when it was built, and Eldean Bridge is now one of the finest surviving examples of Stephen Long's invention.
A portion of Long's 1830 patent. Eldean Bridge follows this patent closely, although the bridge never had the props under the ends or the midspan peak shown here.
Colonel Stephen H. Long, Explorer, Engineer
Stephen Long was a man of many accomplishments. He led the country's third great exploration party west of the Mississippi (following those of Lewis and Clark and Zebulon Pike). Long's Peak in Colorado, 14,255' high, is named for him. Long also explored Minnesota in 1817, and surveyed its boundary with Canada. He helped design the nation's first railroads (1827-39) and developed their initial engineering standards. In 1830 he patented the nation's first scientifically designed bridge truss. Col. Long also taught at West Point and commanded the Corps of Topographical Engineers.
The Long Patent Truss
Stephen Long's railroad work in the 1820's fueled his interest in creating strong yet economical bridges. His invention, the Long Truss, was the first patented truss to consist of a series of large rectangular bays or panels crisscrossed by diagonal timbers to give rigidity. Connections were tightened by driving wedges at the ends of certain timbers. Long was unable to calculate the stresses in the timbers, but he understood each member's function. The form he developed was so practical that it has been the basis for countless variations and improvements since. The much more common Howe Truss is simply a Long Truss that uses iron rods instead of timbers for the vertical members.
Eldean Bridge was repaired and restored in 2005 by Miami County, with funding from the Federal Highway Administration's National Historic Covered Bridge Preservation Program and Transportation Enhancement Program, combined with local bridge funds.
Miami County Engineer: , Douglas L. Christian, P.E., P.S. , Restoration Designer: , J. A. Barker Engineering, Inc., Bloomington, IN , Restoration Contractor: , The Righter Company, Inc. Columbus, Ohio
Eldean Bridge is the only covered bridge left of about 30
that once crossed Miami County streams. The bridge, built in
1860, is one of Ohio's oldest. With a deck length of 222 feet,
it is also the state's second longest covered bridge.
Early farmers used the bridge to carry grain to Allen's Mill,
later called the Eldean Mill, which stood west of the bridge.
The bridge carried Eldean Road until bypassed in 1963.
In 1860 the Miami County Commissioners hired brothers
James & William Hamilton to build the bridge. They were
paid $1,337 to build the stone substructure, and $2,632 to
build the wooden spans.
The Commissioners specified that a Long Truss be used
to support the bridge, so named for its inventor Stephen
Long, rather than for the span's great length. Eldean Bridge
is the longest Long Truss in existence. Its timbers are white
pine, a light but reasonably strong species not native to the
area. The timbers were cut in Michigan and floated to the
site via the Miami & Erie Canal, which passed nearby.
Stones for the abutments and pier probably came from a
quarry the Hamiltons owned near Piqua.
Over the years decayed timbers have been reinforced
and the bridge was raised 15” to better clear floods. Yet the
bridge's appearance and structural behavior have changed
little from when it
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was built, and Eldean Bridge is now one of
the finest surviving examples of Stephen Long's invention.
A portion of Long's 1830 patent. Eldean Bridge follows this patent
closely, although the bridge never had the props under the ends or
the midspan peak shown here.
Colonel Stephen H. Long,
Explorer, Engineer
Stephen Long was a man of many
accomplishments. He led the country's
third great exploration party west of the
Mississippi (following those of Lewis &
Clark and Zebulon Pike). Long's Peak in
Colorado, 14,255' high, is named for him.
Long also explored Minnesota in 1817, and
surveyed its boundary with Canada. He
helped design the nation's first railroads
(1827-39) and developed their initial
engineering standards. In 1830 he
patented the nation's first scientifically
designed bridge truss. Col. Long also
taught at West Point and commanded the
Corps of Topographical Engineers.
The Long Patent Truss
Stephen Long's railroad work in the
1820's fueled his interest in creating strong
yet economical bridges. His invention, the
Long Truss, was the first patented truss to
consist of a series of large rectangular bays
or panels crisscrossed by diagonal timbers
to give rigidity. Connections were tightened
by driving wedges at the ends of certain
timbers. Long was unable to calculate the
stresses in the timbers, but he understood
each
Photographed By Craig Doda, September 14, 2019
2. Eldean Covered Bridge Marker
member's function. The form he
developed was so practical that it has been
the basis for countless variations and
improvements since. The much more
common Howe Truss is simply a Long Truss
that uses iron rods instead of timbers for the
vertical members.
Eldean Bridge was repaired and restored
in 2005 by Miami County, with funding from
the Federal Highway Administration's
National Historic Covered Bridge
Preservation Program and Transportation
Enhancement Program,
combined with local bridge funds.
Miami County Engineer:
Douglas L. Christian, P.E., P.S.
Restoration Designer:
J. A. Barker Engineering, Inc.,
Bloomington, IN
Restoration Contractor:
The Righter Company, Inc.
Columbus, Ohio
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Bridges & Viaducts. In addition, it is included in the Covered Bridges, and the The Miami & Erie Canal series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1860.
Location. 40° 4.68′ N, 84° 13.018′ W. Marker is in Eldean, Ohio, in Miami County. Marker is on Eldean Road (County Road 33) 0.1 miles County Road 25A, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 633 Eldean Rd, Troy OH 45373, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. A different marker also named Eldean Covered Bridge (a few steps from this marker); The Eldean Bridge
Also see . . . Eldean Covered Bridge. (Submitted on February 13, 2021, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio.)
Photographed By Craig Doda, September 14, 2019
4. Eldean Covered Bridge Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on February 13, 2021. It was originally submitted on February 13, 2021, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. This page has been viewed 157 times since then and 9 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on February 13, 2021, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
