Oxford Road Bowstring Arch Bridge, New Haven, Ohio

Built around 1860 by the Massilon Bridge Company of Massilon, Ohio, this rare bowstring pony truss bridge once carried traffic over Oxford Road. The bridge is about 54 feet long and originally spanned Howard Creek in Crosby Township.

Wrought Iron bridges like this one were popular in the 1800s and held up well to the elements. However, there are now just 22 of these bowstring arch bridges still standing in Ohio.

When found hiding in the vegetation, there was no floor on the bridge although it is thought to originally have had a wooden base. The bridge sat on dry-stacked stone bridge abutments that were still in good condition.

In 2006 the bridge was restored by the Ohio Bridge Corporation of Cambridge, Ohio and then placed at the Crosby Senior Center where it is used as a walking trail bridge just a half a mile from its original location over Howard creek.

If you’re in southwestern Ohio, this is your chance to see one of the rarest bridges in the state up close and personal.