Shaeffer Campbell Covered Bridge

State: Ohio
Route: N/A
Status: Active (Pedestrian)
Type: Covered Kingpost Truss
Total Length: 68'

The Shaeffer Campbell Covered Bridge is a historic covered bridge that carries a pedestrian path over a pond in St. Clairsville, Ohio.

The bridge was originally located in Fairfield County, south of Amanda, where it crossed Clear Creek. ¹ It was built in 1891 in the multiple Kingpost truss style. Fairfield County contains many examples of this design, several built by James W. Buchanan, a Fairfield County native and noted covered bridge builder credited with constructing the Shaeffer Campbell Bridge. ^{1 3}

The bridge was damaged in 1973 when a farm tractor fell through its floor. It was donated to Belmont County in 1975. ¹ At the time, Belmont County had no surviving covered bridges; its last covered bridge, which crossed Captina Creek, had collapsed in 1953 under the weight of a coal truck. ²

After its donation, the bridge was dismantled and moved to a county garage in Lloydsville, where it was reassembled and reconditioned. In 1975, it was placed over College Pond at the Ohio University Belmont Campus in St. Clairsville and was dedicated by Belmont County Engineer R.J. Boccabella. ^{2 3} The railings on the bridge approaches were designed to resemble those at the home of American writer Mark Twain.