The modest Pratt through truss spanning Oldtown Creek in Logan, Ohio, stands as the last extant bridge constructed by the Motherwell Iron and Steel Company, a once-prominent regional manufacturer.
Founded in Lancaster in 1867, the Motherwell enterprise commenced operations producing shovels and scrapers under the moniker Motherwell Brothers. Expansion followed in 1874 when the firm reorganized as the Motherwell Iron Works. By 1881, it had evolved into the Motherwell Iron & Steel Company.
Among its notable projects, the company fabricated a pin-connected Pratt through truss in 1888, erecting it across Rush Creek along Klump Road. This structure underwent rehabilitation in 1956 before being dismantled circa 2006. Two years later, it was reconstructed to carry a trail over Oldtown Creek at the Old Town Creek Preserve.
Despite its understated appearance, this quirky remnant serves as a poignant reminder of an industrial era that has largely faded into the annals of history. Its survival is a testament to the durability of 19th-century craftsmanship and metallurgy.