Ohio Covered Bridges - Graham

The Graham Bridge in its park. 10/6/2025 dwm photo

The Graham Road bridge is a former covered bridge that was washed a mile downstream by a flood in 1913. 

According to Carl E. Feather's The Covered Bridges of Ashtabula County, this bridge at one time crossed the Grand River Callender Road in Rome Township, Ashtabula County. 

After the flood, salvageable lumber was collected and hauled to Pierpoint Township where wood was needed to cross the Ashtabula River.

A new bridge was built, wide enough, the account says, for two horse-pulled buggies to meet. 

Looking toward the Benson home. 10/6/2025 dwm

 By the 1940s, the bridge wasn't strong enough to handle the kind of loads farmers had to get across the river, forcing wagons to ford the river rather than test the weak timber.

 By 1970, the bridge was targeted for replacement. Robert and Helen Benson offered a piece of their land as a park and resting place for the old bridge. 

 A few years later the roof and siding was repaired, allowing the bridge to serve as a pavilion and tourist attraction. It stands just a mile or two as the crow flies from the Caine Road bridge.

 Graham 

 

Built: 1913, salvaging lumber from an earlier bridge that was washed out

 

Style: Town Truss

 

Length:  97-feet in the Benson Family Park

 

The bridge was moved to its resting place in 1970. 10/6/2025 dwm

The Graham Bridge - pavilion. 10/6/2025 dwm

Barn quilts adorn many of the county's bridges. 10/6/2025 dwm