National Register of Historic Places

West Fifth Street Bridge

Ashtabula, Ashtabula County, Ohio
Listed
August 22, 1985
Type
Structure
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
85001801

About this property

The Ashtabula lift bridge (also known as the West Fifth Street bridge) is a Strauss bascule bridge that carries Ohio State Route 531 over the Ashtabula River in the harbor of Ashtabula, Ohio. Besides its importance as a major transportation route in Ashtabula, the bridge occupies a crucial location in the city's built environment; the Ashtabula Harbour Commercial District terminates at the bridge's western end. A river crossing had been at the bridge's site long before it was constructed. In 1889, a 19th-century pontoon bridge on the site was replaced by a through truss bridge, which permitted river access because it was a swing bridge. In 1925, the bridge was constructed by a Cleveland firm, Wendell P. Brown, for $179,000. The lifting action depends on electric motors and a massive concrete counterweight. It is one of only two of its type that remain in service in the state of Ohio, and the only one extant in the state highway system. In 1985, the bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. From March 2008 through May 2009, the bridge was closed for repairs and repainting. The Charles Berry Bridge, another bascule bridge in Ohio

Location

Ashtabula, Ashtabula County, Ohio
41.90042, -80.79776

Categories

ENGINEERING
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 West Fifth Street Bridge

This page lists West Fifth Street 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 West Fifth Street Bridge report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

Ashtabula Harbour Commercial District
Listed
0.1 mi
Hubbard, Col. William, House
Industrial
0.4 mi
Mother of Sorrows Church
Industrial
0.4 mi
Ashtabula Harbor Light
Industrial
1.2 mi
Harmon, Francis E., House
Industrial
2.1 mi

Questions about this property

When was West Fifth Street Bridge listed on the National Register?

West Fifth Street Bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on August 22, 1985.

What type of historic resource is West Fifth Street Bridge?

West Fifth Street Bridge is classified as a structure in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for West Fifth Street Bridge?

The period of significance for West Fifth Street Bridge is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near West Fifth Street 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 West Fifth Street Bridge will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Ashtabula County

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

Explore AshtabulaCounty ›

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 West Fifth Street Bridge will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your locationView a free sample report