This covered bridge saddens me. Look closely- half of it is gone. It’s called the Knowlton Covered Bridge. Built in 1887, it was a three span, 193 foot bridge. It was one of the two longest covered bridges in Ohio.

Here’s another view.

It won’t last much longer.

Ohio communities were once dotted with covered bridges. In fact, any road that required a bridge, likely used a covered bridge to span the gap. They were engineering masterpieces of their day and served a purpose beyond transportation in some places, often hosting community gatherings and even church services in good weather in places that lacked facilities to accommodate a crowd.

Covered bridges had a couple of nicknames – “kissing bridges” because the dark interior was a perfect place for young couples to steal a smooch and “wishing bridges” because a wish made inside a covered bridge is thought to always come true!

This bridge is on a side road off Route 26 in the Wayne National Forest, not far from Marietta. Out of service, no one has bothered or perhaps couldn’t afford to maintain it. There simply aren’t enough resources to go around when you have to maintain landmarks like this one. You can no longer enter it for kissing or for wishing and I’m guessing anyone who tries may wish they hadn’t. The floor doesn’t look secure.

This is one of the reasons I adventure. To find these remnants of another time, many of which won’t be around for another generation to see and appreciate.