Very Remote Abandoned Bridge in Birds Run, Guernsey County, Ohio, Wills Creek Bridge

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Built in 1894 by the Wrought Iron Bridge Company of Canton, Ohio, the Wills Creek bridge is about 162 feet long and spans Wills Creek just southeast of Birds Run, Ohio. I’m not too sure when the bridge was closed but I believe it was still open as late as 2007. The Wrought Iron Bridge Company Plaque has been stolen but supposedly a marble abutment plaque remains although I couldn’t find it on either of my 2 trips to the bridge.
Ohio Bridge Historian David Simmons states: Quote: it's remarkable for how well preserved it is. Virtually nothing has been changed since the day it was built except, as Nathan Holth with “Historic Bridges.org notes, removal of the nameplate. It's a classic design by the Wrought Iron Bridge Company from Canton. They were among the largest and most prolific metal bridge builders in the US. Nobody but WIBC turned their verticals so the latticework faced out and few used the special "basket handle" design to connect the tension verticals and the lower pins. Even the floor beam hangers are still intact. This is a real gem for a metal bridge enthusiast. Unquote
On my second visit to the bridge in November 2023 I used my newly purchased drone to get a few aerial shots. Months later when I began editing the video I noticed a set of concrete bridge abutments about 500 feet north of the bridge. Upon further investigation I found out the abutments were for the former Cleveland & Marietta Railroad and the bridge for the railroad (Now gone) was built at the same time as the Wills Creek vehicle bridge. The bridges were possibly built at the same time in order to reduce cost due to having equipment and supplies readily available for each.
What I also inadvertently filmed with the drone was the spur side track that ran parallel to the creek and directly in front of the bridge. I believe this sidetrack was to allow trains running from the town of Kimbolton to run off on the spur to make way for trains coming from Birds Run. The portion of the spur running from Bridge Road back to the mainline is now a private driveway. Plenty of interesting information coming out about this railroad in a future video.
GPS Location: 40º09'15.2"N 81º38'36.7"W

[@mikesbeesllc]

I have many memories on that bridge and the creek below it. 50's and early 60's

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

It's a beautiful area.

[@MoellerEngineeringCo.]

What a beauty. I feel kinda sad for the lonely old Girl.

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

If you get a chance, go check it out. You won't be disappointed.

[@JSAC66]

Great video, can't wait to hear about the railroad!

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

It will definitely be a good video but it may be a few years before the release. I have 280 videos in front of it to edit and release.

[@rtrobinson88321]

Great find. I love these old bridges

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

Thanks!

[@a.l.gardner5914]

The most likely explanation for the spur lines are portals for coal mines before the arrival of the practice of strip mining coal. The Wills Creek Basin from SR16 south to I70 would become a massive strip mine operated by AEP and Consol once the equipment was developed to remove the overburden. You can still follow the railroad beds and see cut sandstone abutments at crossing points. Another aspect of why the bridge may have been abandoned is that it may lie in the flood plane of the Wills Creek Dam: a USACE flood control project completed in @1939. It will probably depend on who owns the old roads and rail lines if the right of ways are to be converted to hiking trails, bike paths, or four wheelers (think tourism dollars).

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

Thanks for the info! I didn't know that.

[@JayYoung-ro3vu]

We have a through frame bridge on one of our bike paths through our city. It's a former train bridge. There was a ghost road southeast of Mechanicsburg, Ohio. The county could no longer afford the upkeep. There was a side road that got you back on main traffic arteries. I want to say that it's in northwest Madison County, Ohio. I know of another through-frame bridge south of Grove City, Ohio. If I recall correctly, they were going to refurbish it into a bike path carrier too? The clearing of the undergrowth drew praise and photographs. I don't have an update on the bridge.

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

Do you have any GPS Coordinates for the bridges?

[@musclecarmitch908]

Beautiful bridge with great history! Thanks for sharing!👍

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

You are most welcome!!! You never did tell me what muscle cars you owned.

[@musclecarmitch908]

​@@historyinyourownbackyard2363i have a 69 corvette 427 4 speed at the moment, im always trading around in old cars.😊

[@musclecarmitch908]

​@@historyinyourownbackyard2363 I have a 69 corvette stingray 427 4 speed at the moment, I'm always trading around in old cars.😊

[@leehuff2330]

There is a long-abandoned stone arch bridge over King's Creek, just north of Weirton WV. It's visible from state route 2, and once carried the road which was then known as state route 66. The bridge was bypassed when the road was realigned during the Great Depression since it was extremely narrow even for the traffic of the time, but remained open for a few years before being blocked off

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

Cool! I'll have to check it out. Thanks for the information!

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

Cool! I just found it! Thanks for the info!

[@wiscpoi]

Great video! ❤

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

Thanks! Glad you like it.

[@campermike8879]

What a great bridge and great history I have seen a few that were build by a local company that far as I know doesn't exist anymore Roanoke Iron Works I know of a railroad bridge they built Trying to think of other bridges, When they tore down a grocery store near me I saw their label on a beam

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

Quite a few are out of business now.

[@Argumedies]

While the Auto Bridge is wonderful i find the railroad information more fascinating especially here in Ohio

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

I agree. The story I dug up on this railroad is pretty cool. I should have that video out in a few months.

[@ekimp252]

@@historyinyourownbackyard2363here’s a map from 1912 that shows the railroad lines, bridge(s) and spur. Looking forward to whatever you can find!

[@melissajames7664]

Played on and by that bridge my whole youth.

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

How long ago was that?

[@melissajames7664]

@historyinyourownbackyard2363 would have been in the 80's , when folks still drove over bridge.I grew up and still live in Birds Run.

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

@@melissajames7664 good deal!

[@mattb7682]

Love these videos! I have a couple phantom bridges by where I live in nw ohio

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

where abouts???

[@indy6781]

very interesting, I think alot of these old bridges got moved to other places.

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

yes, some do fortunately.

[@tomglpn]

Have you done a video about the phantom bridge that is right down the road from the covered bridge right by st rt 50 in Batavia? The covered bridge is the one that fell while being restored.

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

Yes I did. Here's the link to it: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hn6Ve2N7nrGbntk and here's the link to the covered bridge: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hpubqHmJg8iia5I

[@joeanderson9852]

❤❤

[@user-co7fb6qe5w]

We have licensed ship pilots that can desecrate these in a second.

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

Yes we do...

[@davidjennings2986]

Are you local? Can you help me find Standing Rock near Birds Run? Not the road but the actual rock. David J.

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

I live in southeastern Indiana.

[@kellyking3677]

David, there is a Standing Rock in the Pearl/Chili area.

[@historyinyourownbackyard2363]

@@kellyking3677 Do you have a GPS location?

[@johnswigler6512]

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