The Covered Bridges of Ashtabula County, Ohio
Arcadia Press, 2014
Available from the publisher and amazon.com.
Ashtabula County, Ohio, has 19 covered bridges, the most of any Ohio County. Why is that? And what are the stories behind their construction, preservation and charm? Those questions are answered in this book, which also delves into the history of the many lost covered bridges of this, Ohio’s largest county. Photographs by the author and the late Walter Jack illustrate the book.
From the publisher:
When its first covered bridge was constructed on the Ashtabula-Trumbull Turnpike in 1832, Ashtabula County was closer to frontier than a “new Connecticut.” Its rutted roads promised adventure and suggested prosperity but also great hardship. Covered bridges, made mostly of local timber, would eventually soften the brutality of travel, isolation and a well-watered landscape. Their proliferation and preservation gave Ashtabula County the nickname “Covered Bridge Capital of the Western Reserve.” Admire both famous and forgotten crossings with Carl E. Feather, who has spent over a quarter century mired in muddy creek beds, camera in hand, waiting for the perfect light.”
Amazon readers say:
This is the book to buy if you want to learn about the HISTORY of Ashtabula County’s covered bridges. I had downloaded this from the library on my kindle and I found myself highlighting so many notes that I ended up buying the paperback. Money well spent! A lot of interesting facts, a lot of old pictures and information on bridges that no longer exist. I would have loved to see more pictures!
Even though I have lived in Ashtabula county for almost thirty years, driven through several of the covered bridges, and attended the yearly covered bridge festival I found this book to be a well-written and informative history of the past and present covered bridges of Ashtabula County.
The author has included pictures of several of the by-gone bridges and photographs that he personally took of the existing bridges.