Sidney in Shelby County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Zenas King Bowstring Bridge
Photographed by Rev. Ronald Irick, September 27, 2021
1. Zenas King Bowstring Bridge Marker
Zenas King (1818-1892) was a 19th century bridge builder whose iron bridges received wide acceptance throughout the country. He developed his tubular bowstring bridge in 1859, patented the design in 1861, renewed the patent in 1867, and founded King Iron Bridge & Manufacturing Company in 1871. Based on an archs inherent strength, Kings design used less raw materials than wooden bridges and the square tubes were simple to fabricate and ship for on-site assembly. His Cleveland-based company soon built so many patent bowstrings across Ohio that it set a design standard.
Kings tubular bowstring design created widespread enthusiasm for iron bridges and by 1880 his Ohio company was among the largest manufacturers of highway bridges in the nation. This bridge, built in 1879 as part of two spans crossing Loramie Creek near Fort Loramie, is one of two Zenas King bowstring bridges extant in Ohio. When the Great Flood of 1913 severely damaged the bridges abutments, it was sold and relocated to a privately owned farm. Donated to the City of Sidney, the bridge was restored and relocated to Tawawa Park during Sidneys bicentennial celebration in 2020.
Erected 2021 by City of Sidney; Ohio Historical Bridge Association; The Ohio Historical Connection. (Marker Number 5-75.)
Topics and series.
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Location. 40° 17.31′ N, 84° 7.651′ W. Marker is in Sidney, Ohio, in Shelby County. It can be reached from Tawawa Drive one mile east of Benjamin Trail, on the left when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 12 Tawawa Dr, Sidney OH 45365, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Ohio’s Till Plains. It is also in the American Midwest and in the Corn Belt. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, and the Northwest Territory.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Ross Bridge (approx. 0.3 miles away); Big Rock (approx. 0.4 miles away); Site of the First Football Game played in Sidney (approx. 0.8 miles away); Tawawawa Park 5k Path Start (approx. 0.8 miles away); Tawawa Park (approx. 0.8 miles away); Sidney (approx. 0.9 miles away); North Street Bridge, State Route 47 (approx. 1.1 miles away); a different marker also named North Street Bridge, State Route 47 (approx. 1.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Sidney.
More about this marker. marker is WAY back in Tawawa Park
Photographed by Rev. Ronald Irick, September 27, 2021
2. Zenas King Bowstring Bridge Marker
Photographed by Rev. Ronald Irick, September 27, 2021
3. Zenas King Bowstring Bridge Marker
Photographed by Rev. Ronald Irick, September 27, 2021
4. The Zenas King Bowstring Bridge
Photographed by Rev. Ronald Irick, September 27, 2021
5. Dedication plaque on boulder next to marker
Photographed by Craig Doda, June 29, 2024
6. Zenas King Bowstring Bridge Marker
Photographed by Craig Doda, June 29, 2024
7. Zenas King Bowstring Bridge Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on July 2, 2024. It was originally submitted on September 27, 2021, by Rev. Ronald Irick of West Liberty, Ohio. This page has been viewed 588 times since then and 20 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on September 27, 2021, by Rev. Ronald Irick of West Liberty, Ohio. 6, 7. submitted on July 1, 2024, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
