John Bright Jr. was born in 1787 in Pennsylvania. Around 1810, he traveled to Ohio on horseback. He rode solo through Indian land that was dense forests at the time. Upon arriving, he settled on the land that had been purchased by his father, John Bright Sr. John Jr. built a house and began clearing out the land so it could be farmed. He continued to improve and increase his property over the years. His 1,700 acre farm was considered by many to be the finest in Liberty Township. He built a sawmill and a gristmill on his farm, along Poplar Creek. A church was later built on his property as well. John Bright Jr. died in 1853.

Originally, this covered bridge spanned Poplar Creek on Bish Road. In 1988, it was relocated to the O.U. campus in Lancaster, next to the John Bright Iron Bridge.

August Borneman was a popular and versatile bridge builder. Unlike other contractors, Borneman would use any truss that the customer requested. However, he preferred the Howe Truss. Trademarks of Borneman's Howe Truss Bridges are iron blocks along the lower cords and iron sway bracing along the roof. In 1882, he built a massive 472 foot bridge over the Walhonding River. Borneman later founded the Hocking Valley Bridge Works.