Ohio Covered Bridges - Black

Black Covered Bridge. 10/4/2025 dwm

 The only surviving bridge in Butler County spans Four Mile creek across from Yager Stadium, where the University of Miami (Ohio) plays football.

 A modern bridge replaced the covered one for transportation purposes years ago. Fittingly, the new bridge provides a great view of the old one (left).

 Covered bridges were frequently built in an effort to help farmers get their grain to market, and getting to market meant taking it to a mill.

 A saw and grist mill owned by James Pugh gave the structure it's original name. The mill was in business for twenty years. Eventually, the bridge was referred to as the black bridge in contrast to a second bridge in Butler County painted white.

The bridge is 106-feet long. 10/4/25 dwm

A county park is dedicated to the bridge and a bike-pedestrian trail links it to nearby Oxford, Ohio (the home of Miami University).

It's an impressive bridge and is unique in that builders incorporated two means of support. In the photo at right, the timber forming a "X" is known as a lattice truss.

Warren Childs modified that with a vertical timber in the center with two single timbers reaching to the center and repeating the vertical timber between each "X."

The bridge was restored in 2000 by Oxford County, the Oxford Museum Association, and the Oxford County engineers.

 

The north entrance. 10/4/25 dwm 

 While most bridges are painted, I like the natural look, especially when it's experienced years of seasonal changes.

 The no-longer-Black covered bridge is in a beautiful setting from U.S. Highway 27 or seen up close in the park on Corso Road. 

 Black Covered Bridge

  Built 1868   

  Truss: Combination of Childs and Long truss

  Length: 106' in one span 

 

Black (Pugh's) Covered Bridge, Oxford, Ohio. 10/4/2025 dwm