National Register of Historic Places

Bergstresser Covered Bridge

Canal Winchester, Franklin County, Ohio
Listed
May 2, 1974
Type
Structure
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
74001484

About this property

Bergstresser / Dietz Bridge, the last remaining covered bridge in Franklin County, Ohio, United States, is located within the city limits of Canal Winchester, Ohio in southeastern Franklin County. The wooden bridge crosses Little Walnut Creek, which is a tributary of the Scioto River. Although the bridge is in serviceable condition, it is only open to foot traffic. The Bergstresser/Dietz Bridge is located adjacent to the intersection of Ashbrook Road and Washington Street in Canal Winchester. The bridge crosses Little Walnut Creek at what has been termed Kramer's Ford. An Ohio Historical Marker commemorating the bridge is located at the corner of Ashbrook Road and Washington Street. In the 1800s, the village of Canal Winchester was important to the local economies of southeastern Franklin and northwestern Fairfield counties. The village evolved into a local transportation hub because the Ohio and Erie Canal and the Hocking Valley Railway passed through. Little Walnut Creek acted as a moderate barrier to local farmers who transported crops into town. As a result, local citizens petitioned for a bridge to be built over Little Walnut Creek. In March 1887, the Franklin County Commissioners announced the building of a bridge over Little Walnut Creek at Kramer's Ford. Michael Corbett of Groveport, Ohio, contracted to construct the abutments and the Columbus Bridge Company built the covered bridge for $2,690.00. Reuben Partridge, company vice president, supervised the building, using his patented truss system consisting of double and triple truss members constructed of pine and oak. In the 1930s, the road traveling over the bridge became State Route 674, and in the 1950s the road was redirected to bypass the covered bridge. In 1990, the county contracted with Abba Lichtenstein & Associates to evaluate the condition of the bridge. The W.J. Seidensticker Company repaired and restored the Bergstresser/Dietz Bridge using original and new materials. The bridge was rededicated on September 1, 1991. At this time, the ownership of the bridge was transferred to the village of Canal Winchester. The Ohio Historical Marker (Marker Number 17-25) was erected in 1992 by Citizens for Positive Growth for the Village of Canal Winchester and the Ohio Historical Society. Media related to Bergstresser Covered Bridge at Wikimedia Commons

Location

Canal Winchester, Franklin County, Ohio
39.83008, -82.81653

Categories

ENGINEERINGTRANSPORTATION
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Bergstresser Covered Bridge

This page lists Bergstresser Covered Bridge. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Bergstresser Covered Bridge report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

Deitz, Samuel, Farmhouse
Industrial
0.2 mi
Griffith, James, House
Industrial
0.7 mi
Haffey, Parley, Farm Complex
Industrial
0.8 mi
Bruns-Wynkoop House
Industrial
0.8 mi
Canal Winchester School
Industrial
0.8 mi

Questions about this property

When was Bergstresser Covered Bridge listed on the National Register?

Bergstresser Covered Bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on May 2, 1974.

What type of historic resource is Bergstresser Covered Bridge?

Bergstresser Covered Bridge is classified as a structure in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Bergstresser Covered Bridge?

The period of significance for Bergstresser Covered Bridge is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Bergstresser Covered Bridge?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Bergstresser Covered Bridge will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Franklin County

Historic places, battles, and census history across Franklin County.

Explore FranklinCounty ›

More historic places in Ohio

Browse all historic places in Ohio.

View Ohiohistoric sites ›

Conflict records

Explore 19,000+ military engagements across American history.

Browse US conflicts ›

Ohio history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

Ohiohistory ›

Research the history near this site

An Aubrey US report for an address near Bergstresser Covered Bridge will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your locationView a free sample report