It’s a story that has been told before, but one which certainly bears re-telling - the tale of a small community which recognized the importance of an endangered local historic resource, and then rallied successfully for its preservation against huge odds.  It’s the story of the “S” curved, stone Blaine Bridge, a unique surviving original remnant of the National Road in Ohio, constructed in 1828.

And, as one online blogger has recently observed, the story did not simply end with the bridge's preservation.  The Blaine Bridge, located in rural Belmont County, has now become the centerpiece of a local park, and together with its near neighbor, the 1933 “Arches of Memory” bridge, it conveys a strong sense of the evolution of transportation across our state.  In this blog story, the author also includes 4 excellent recent photographs of both bridges - be sure to click on the thumbnail photos to bring up the larger, full photographs.

Fortunately, the Blaine Bridge Community Preservation Project believes in the preservation of its own story -- which can be followed on its website, located here.  While the organization has officially terminated its existence following its success, it survives as a community group, and an educational trust fund has been established for students in the local school district.