Portageview Road Bridge

Information and Findings From Ohio's Historic Bridge Inventory

Setting/Context

The bridge is closed. There is are large modern houses to one side and a farm on the other.

Physical Description

The one-span, 69' long and 16' wide pin connected Pratt pony truss bridge supported on ashlar abutments with significant cracks is traditionally composed. Members are severely rusted, and some rivets have been lost. The original built up floorbeams remain.

Integrity

Severely deteriorated truss members and abutments. Impacted rust, impact damage. Bridge closed.

Summary of Significance

The ca. 1895 pin connected pony truss bridge is attributed to the Massillon Bridge Company based on the details of the members. There is significant loss of section and impacted rust which compromises the aspects of integrity. The pin-connected Pratt pony truss is well represented in the state, and this deteriorated example, with no innovative or distinctive details, is not historically or technologically significant. Pratt trusses were undoubtedly the most popular truss design of the last quarter of the 19th century and continued to be built into the 20th century, although eventually superseded in popularity by Warren trusses. The design, which initially was a combination of wood compression and iron tension members, was patented in 1844 by Thomas & Caleb Pratt. The great advantage of the Pratt over other designs was the relative ease of calculating the distribution of stresses. More significantly, it translated well into an all-metal design in lengths of less than 200'. Post-1890 Pratt trusses show a progression toward less variation in their details such that by 1900 the design was quite formulaic with few significant differences between the designs of various builders. In Ohio, there are 185 Pratt trusses dating from ca. 1874 to 1945 with at least 60 dating prior to 1900 (Phase 1A, 2008).

Bridge Considered Historic By Survey: No