Near Milford Center in Union County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Bridgeport
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Bridgeport Iron Bridge
Photographed by Rev. Ronald Irick, March 28, 2016
1. Bridgeport Marker
close up
Bridgeport. In 1840, the first of several bridges was constructed at this location, which became known as "Bridgeport." In the early 1800s, this locality consisted of a group of log houses, a blacksmith shop, and a wagon shop. Several schools have been built here throughout the years. The first school was a one-room round log structure with clapboard roof and stick chimney. Inside, the school contained slab benches without backs and planks pinned to the logs in the walls for desks. A Liberty Party meeting, advocating the abolition of slavery, was held at this schoolhouse in 1844. In later years, Fairbanks School, named in honor of Union County native Vice President Charles W. Fairbanks was built in 1962.
Bridgeport Iron Bridge. The Bridgeport Iron Bridge, often called the Streng Road Iron Bridge, was built in 1914. It replaced a wooden covered bridge built in 1869 by Reuben L. Partridge (1823-1900) and Isaac J. Grummons (1828-1921), which was damaged by the flood of 1913. The 200' steel superstructure uses a pin-connected Pratt Through truss design and was constructed by the Central Concrete & Construction Company, Canton, Ohio, at a cost of $8,987. The original substructure abutments were constructed by John A. Maugans (1861-1933) for $3,248, but have since been replaced. In 1992 and 1993, the bridge was
this page online
Erected 2013 by Union County Commissioners The Ohio Historical Society. (Marker Number 16- 80.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Bridges & Viaducts • Roads & Vehicles • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Ohio Historical Society / The Ohio History Connection series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1840.
Location. 40° 9.526′ N, 83° 23.746′ W. Marker is near Milford Center, Ohio, in Union County. It is on Streng Road (County Route 67). Bridge is just south of Fairbanks High School on Big Darby Creek. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 10800 Streng Road, Marysville OH 43040, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Till Plains and in the Columbus Metropolitan Area. 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 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Mitchell Cemetery Stone #2 (approx. 0.8 miles away); Mitchell Cemetery Stone #3 (approx. 0.8 miles away); Mitchell Cemetery Stone #1 (approx. 0.9 miles away); Milford Center Veterans Memorial (approx. 2 miles away); Union Township Civil War Monument (approx. 2.2 miles away); Milford Center Civil War Honor Roll (approx. 2.2 miles
Photographed by Rev. Ronald Irick, March 28, 2016
2. Bridgeport Marker
close up
Photographed by Robert Baughman, October 20, 2020
3. Bridgeport / Bridgeport Iron Bridge Marker
Marker can be seen on the left.
Photographed by Craig Doda, May 18, 2024
4. Bridgeport Iron Bridge signage
Credits. This page was last revised on May 23, 2024. It was originally submitted on March 28, 2016, by Rev. Ronald Irick of West Liberty, Ohio. This page has been viewed 1,240 times since then and 37 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 28, 2016, by Rev. Ronald Irick of West Liberty, Ohio. 3. submitted on October 20, 2020, by Robert Baughman of Bellefontaine, Ohio. 4. submitted on May 21, 2024, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
