Warnke Covered Bridge



J.D. Warnke owned several tracts of land in this area, including the plot that this covered bridge was built on. There was a sawmill located nearby along Swamp Creek.




Everett S. Sherman
1831-1897
Photographer: unknown


Everett S. Sherman was born in 1831 in Delaware County, Ohio. He learned the bridge building trade from his family. In 1867, Sherman got his first bridge building contract. His bridges used the Childs Truss, which was invented by Horace Childs. He chose that truss because the patent had expired, which meant that no royalties had to be paid. He revived the outdated Childs Truss by improving the design. Sherman's bridges are believed to be the only Child Truss Bridges ever built in the United States. Sherman later moved to Eaton, Ohio and opened a bridge yard. He built numerous bridges throughout Preble County during his career. Everett S. Sherman died on July 16, 1897 at 66 years of age.

This was the final bridge built by Everett S. Sherman. He reportedly cleaned out his bridge yard to gather the wood needed for the construction.



    Information
  • Date: 1895
  • Contractor: Everett S. Sherman
  • Truss: Childs
  • Length: 52'
  • National Register of Historic Places: 1976
    Location
  • County: Preble
  • Village: NE. of Lewisburg
  • Road: Swamp Creek