The 1887 Johnson Covered Bridge was built by Augustus Borneman and the Hocking Valley Bridge Works. This 98-foot-long bridge is constructed with a Howe truss and still sits in its original location spanning Clear Creek in Fairfield County, Ohio while resting on its original abutments. The bridge has a 5-foot overhang on each end and is 15 feet wide and 14 feet tall.

In the 1930s, two full-length windows and canopies were added to allow visibility of oncoming traffic.  It remained in service until 1991 when it was eventually bypassed. Now open to pedestrian traffic only, the bridge was restored in 1996. The Johnson Bridge is the longest-surviving covered bridge on public property in Fairfield County. It is also known as the Johnston and Terry Mill Covered Bridge.

The bridge has been haunted by a woman since long before it was retired from service. No one knows who she is, but there are stories. In one version, she fell into Clear Creek and drowned while helping to guide the horses drawing her family's buggy during a thunderstorm. Another tale has the woman learning of her husband's infidelity and killing herself at the bridge, either by jumping off or hanging herself beneath it.

The woman's ghost stayed with the bridge and now haunts it as it sits in the Two Glaciers Park. You might see her inside some evening, pacing from end to end, or standing at one entrance, looking out. Most often she's seen to beckon to people. Who knows what might happen to those who obey her call?

Ohio is known for its covered bridges. At one point in time, Fairfield County had 279 timber truss bridges. This was more than any other county. Sadly, most of these no longer exist. It is estimated that there are still 125 wooded covered bridges left in the state. Many of them have been relocated to private properties. Others are cared for by local parks departments. Out of the 125, 17 of these are in Fairfield County.

Located at: N39 36.806   W82 39.528   -   WGCB #35-23-16

Photographed in May 2023.