Wednesday, February 09, 2000
Bridge to past desired
Residents want covered span
BY WALT SCHAEFER
The Cincinnati Enquirer
GOSHEN TOWNSHIP — On the old coach road that is present-day Old Ohio 28, a covered bridge across O'Bannon Creek greeted travelers as they neared the tiny farming community of Goshen, founded in 1819.
The old bridge was removed in 1928 as growth brought more people and the state took over control of the highway.
Now, a group of about 25 area residents called the Land of Goshen Initiative's Covered Bridge Committee want to put a new covered bridge over the creek west of the northern Clermont County hamlet as the county replaces the existing concrete bridge a few years from now.
Land of Goshen Initiative (LOGI) was founded in 1994 as a private nonprofit organization to respond to the needs of the Goshen community.
“I see this as something the Goshen community can feel good about.” said Joe Spaulding, who retired as Goshen Middle School principal 13 years ago after 22 years in the job and 30 with the school district. It was his idea to create a replica of the original bridge.
“When I found out the bridge was going to be replaced, I thought, "why not build a covered bridge as a gateway to the community?'” Mr. Spaulding said. The group needs to raise about $100,000 in the next year to realize the goal.
Carla Stewart, a Goshen resident and a manager of service projects at General Electric Aircraft Engines in Evendale, has been named to lead the covered bridge committee.
As a past board member of the Greater Loveland Historical Society, Ms. Stewart has helped with historic preservation projects there and participated in a fund drive to establish the JoAnn Richardson History House in Loveland prior to moving here three years ago.
The bridge committee soon will begin efforts to find funding through government and private foundation grants, donations from area businesses, organizations and residents, she said.
Clermont County Engineer Carl Hartman said he supports the idea but noted the bridge will have to be two lanes wide with guardrails, constructed to handle large tractor-trailer trucks and meet county bridge specifications.
“Our five-year capital improvement plan anticipates replacement of the bridge in 2002. The replacement-structure costs — exclusive of any historical enhancements, is estimated at $316,000. We anticipate applying for an Ohio Public Works Commission grant” of $249,000 which would be awarded in July 2002, he said. The existing concrete bridge is structurally deficient and has a posted 12 ton load limit.
“Our staff would support the idea of placing a wood-frame structure on the proposed (concrete) deck to provide a replica of a wooden covered bridge,” Mr. Hartman said and noted an effort would be made to design the wooden frame to replicate the appearance of the former covered bridge.
Groups, businesses or organizations wanting to contribute funding to the bridge project should make checks payable to: LOGI Bridge Project, c/o Lebanon Citizens National Bank, Goshen Branch, 6723 Ohio 132, Goshen, 45122.
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