Gazette News-Current from Xenia, Ohio • Page 10

1A THE XENIA DAILY GAZETTE Friday, July 23,1971 Greene nostalgia 3 hour trip travels 90 years GAZETTE SPECIAL CO, TEXT AND PHOTOS By ROGER KINTZEL, GAZETTE staff writer Greene County covered bridges 1880--? Only six remain in Greene County where 25 stood in 1947. Born out of necessity serving links in the early roads carved from the Greene County wilderness, these bridges, meager by today's standards, carried commerce and populace to all corners of the county. Even though they have found an historical niche in Twentieth Century America, Greene County's covered bridges are threatened by encroaching civilization. il Drunk drivers, vandals and the proposed Caesar's Creek reservoir have taken their toll. July 21, 1970, vandals set a torch to the Jacoby Rd.

bridge believed to have been 125-130 years old. The Jacoby Rd. bridge was the longest standing covered bridge in Greene County and the last to span the Little Miami River. A combined citizens group posted a $500 reward for information leading to the arrest of the arsonist, but none was ever caught. July 27, 1970 a reckless driver plunged through the side of the Stevenson-Jones Rd.

covered bridge severely damaging the siding and some of the inner supporting structure. Caesar's Creek Reservoir, planned for completion within the next three years, will force the removal of three bridges-- Cemetery Rd. and two on Engle Mill Rd. WHILE THE bridges are still standing and while the weather is i one can tour the Greene County bridges in a pleasant three-hour Sundav afternoon-type jaunt. Better go soon though, because the new Route 35 is set to render Ballard Rd.

impassable and pass within a quarter of a mile of the Ballard Ka. bridge. Because of the quasi-isolated roads served by he bridges, the three-hour tour is guided through green" Greene County. At the bottom of the narrow Massie's Creek valley sets the Jones Rd. bridge.

Though blighted on the west by an auto wrecking yard roads lead ing to the bridge from the east or west offer views t0 Ule re lcvel parts of "'e Ballard Rd bridge spans a branch of Caesar's Creek bordered on one side by a high vertical wall of limestone and on the other by a broadenin? valley. Thus is the most picturesque of the bridges Engle Miil two bridges are alonp in broad flood plain formed by larger branch of Caesar's Creek. Only a mile apart, each bridge offers a different view to the visitor for an eve for uncultivated scenery. TREMORS CAUSED by moving Better take the tour soon!.