Shade Covered Bridge

Demolished in 2022

Sugar Grove | Berne Township

Walnut Creek on County Rd 49 in Jefferson

1871 – James W Buchanan (other references say 1883, John Shrake of Licking County)

Burr Arch (some references say it is a Multiple Kingpost Truss with arches added at a later date)

127′ plus 7′ overhang on each end; 16′ width; 13.5′ height

In the early 1980s, Bill Pierson received permission from a County engineer to take the Shade and prevent it being destroyed at that time.  With the help of his family and friends, he moved it to the property.  He wrote an engaging, often humorous story about the work they did, see “If it Falls to the Left, Jump to the Right”.

For many years, it was used by the Pierson family as a museum of sorts, housing a large personal collection of memorabilia.  He gave the bridge an additional 35-plus years of life it would not have had otherwise.

A typed legend was found inside the bridge.  Its accuracy cannot be determined, but it reads:

“Shade Bridge was designed by Theodore Burr and built in 1883.  Originally located outside Waterloo, Ohio (Fairfield County) spanning Little Walnut Creek, it rested over a placid section of the green corn fields stretching behind it.  The unusual bridge is a “Belt and Suspenders” design with arches built into the sides and vertical beams for double safety, thus the name Belt and Suspenders.  If both are worn it is highly unlikely that one’s pants would fall down.

“The transfer and restoration of Shade Bridge was the dream and now the reality of Bill Pierson, who believes that this structure is a piece of our heritage and should be preserved.  Shade Bridge has been slated for destruction.  The County felt that the time and expense of restoration of the Bridge was not feasible.  Feeling that Bill Pierson’s teardown would save them the money of destroying it, the County gave him permission to do so in January of 1980.  Thus began the fulfillment of a dream.  Although on July 19, 1980 the weakened structure fell into the creek, Bill along with family and friends persisted and finally located the remaining parts of the bridge far downstream.  These were pulled out of the water and saved.  By the end of November, 1980 the entire bridge was moved to it’s present location outside of Sugar Grove, Ohio.

“Shade Bridge is the longest covered bridge in Fairfield County.  Running for approximately 150′, it spans the small creek on Bill’s Hocking Hills farm.  Now a museum, it contains many artifacts and collectibles including antique oars, Bill’s vast indian arrowhead collection, complete set of National Geographics dating back to the early 1900’s, rag rugs, original artwork by Ohio artists, an open view beehive, old postcards, hats, and antique tools, etc. found during the cleanup of this farmhouse and outbuildings.  You are cordially welcome to browse through the bridge and hike our many hills, cliffs and woods during your visit here.

“Special thanks should go to the following people who have helped make this restoration possible.  First, Betty Pierson, Bill’ wife, who has lived with the dreamer and worked as hard as any man during this adventure.  Also, Howard Hazlett, an 18 year old friend who was injured while helping tear down the bridge on the day it collapsed.  Rick Cox, Steve Pierson & Guy Pierson who worked hard on the tear down and construction.  Thank you to Leon Wolford, Fairfield County Engineer, who gave Bill official permission to have Shade Bridge, and Nell Sullivan, now deceased, whose family owned this farm for over 100 years and whose many old farm treasures you see now.  There are many other friends, old and new, though too numerous to name here, worked equally hard.  Thank you all.

“Merry Christmas, Bill
Lynn   1982″

In 2015, the Piersons sold the property to Fairfield County Park District.

In 2019, during the heavy storms of late spring (early summer) a large tree and several heavy limbs came down on Shade and the tiny Hummel bridges.  The already-weakened structures were badly damaged.  The first verbal quote received to renovate the Shade on-site was several hundred thousand dollars!  How could we justify spending almost half of the District’s annual income on just one bridge in a not-yet-developed park?

In late 2019, an engineering firm was contacted to get a fresh perspective and an opinion about the best use of the property.  A few ideas were suggested.  One was to create Misty Valley Seed Nursery & Resource Center with a native prairie, shade and understory plantings, pollinator plots, a heavily wooded area, a drying barn, an interpretive resource and education center for use by educators and students, and a trail with footbridges.  It was suggested to us that, because of the poor condition of the buildings, any salvageable wood from the Shade and other structures could be repurposed in a new drying barn and/or resource center.

During Winter Storm Landon (February 3-5, 2022) heavy ice and snow inflicted irreparable damage to the bridges.  A month later, it fully collapsed.  It was decided to demolish the buildings.  A request for bids to remove the structures was published.  It is our hope parts of the bridges will be salvaged and used elsewhere in Fairfield County.  The building is to be razed at the end of June 2022.

To read more, see “Covered Bridges – Good News, Bad News” in the March 16, 2022 edition of our newsletter.