Bergstresser-Dietz Covered Bridge



This covered bridge was named after the families that owned the land. D. Bergstresser owned the land on the south side of Walnut Creek. Samuel Dietz owned the land on the north side of Walnut Creek. Their old brick houses are still standing nearby.




Photographer: unknown



Reuban L. Partridge
1823-1900
Photographer: unknown


Reuban L. Partridge was born on September 10, 1823 in New York. His parents, Cyrus and Lucina Partridge, eventually traveled to Franklin County, Ohio. They were among the early settlers of the county. When Cyrus died in 1836, Lucina moved the family to Marysville, Ohio. Reuban learned the wood working trade from his half-brother, Rowland Lee. Partridge was a wagon maker for roughly eight years. He later chose to follow the carpenter's trade.

In 1855, Partridge got his first bridge building contract, which was the first self supporting bridge in Union County. By 1866, Partridge was building bridges full time. In 1872, he received a patent for his truss design, the Partridge Truss. By 1883, Partridge had built over 125 bridges. Most of them were built in Union County. In his later years, Partridge became the vice president of the Columbus Bridge Company. He often supervised the construction of the bridges. In July, 1900, he was supervising the repair of the Alsaugh Bridge when he fell and broke his leg. Reuban L. Partridge died in July, 1900 from complications due to the broken leg.

Partridge supervised the construction of this covered bridge, which used his patented truss system.



    Information
  • Date: 1887
  • Contractor: Columbus Bridge Co.
  • Truss: Triple-Partridge
  • Length: 134'
    Location
  • County: Franklin
  • Village: S. of Canal Winchester
  • Road: Winchester-Northern