JULY 2022
The piers are sound,
the metalwork is not.
"The CONSOR team of specialized, professional engineers walked every inch of that bridge, they had divers in the water inspecting the sandstone piers supporting the ironwork and they unequivocally confirmed, that the decision to close the bridge in 2020 has protected the safety of Marietta residents and visitors," says HHBC Chairman of the Board Larry Sloter.
How can YOU help?
Join us for the Harmar Days Festival. This historic festival has supported the maintenance of the only remaining hand-turned swing bridge in the United States. In the past few years the festival has grown to an attendance of more than 10,000 visitors to Marietta, Ohio. In 2021, you set a new record! You took a street fair that historically raised $2,000 per year and multiplied that impact, raising $90,000 in 2021.
With your support, we’ve expanded the impact of local organizing by gathering for music, family games, craft vendors and even a miniature train fueled by the same coal that helped to connect a nation to opportunity through the movement of goods and labor.
Proceeds of the 2021 Harmar Days summer raffle and festival secured the work of CONSOR to complete the most thorough inspection of the Historic Harmar Bridge to date. Your contributions paid for the work and allowed for the nonprofit to apply for reimbursement from the Ohio Capital Grant.
Now, we must raise the funds to match additional grants and partnerships moving forward until the bridge can be restored.
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Aid the Assets & Maintenance Committee by to supporting the growing pollinator zone at the Historic Harmar Bridge Company Butterfly Garden
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Join us at the Harmar Days Festival | Last Weekend in July
We can’t wait to celebrate with you as we expand our children’s section, music selection, car show and beer garden!
Check out our Facebook for shout outs to the sponsors who are making this year’s festival possible!
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As we share the love of our Harmar Days Festival Sponsors help us to thank them on Facebook!
Help protect this National Treasure:
Initially built as a covered bridge in 1856, the Harmar Bridge was converted to a railroad bridge in the 1860s, making it one of the first iron bridges during the Civil War, the oldest swinging railroad bridge in the country, and the only one of its kind still in operation today. For the past 30 years the Historic Harmar Bridge Company has been the custodian and caretaker of the Historic Harmar Bridge, part of the Harmar Historic District and National Register of Historic Places, with the long-term preservation and restoration of the bridge being their singular mission. Despite on-going fundraising and maintenance efforts, the Harmar Bridge has been deemed unsafe for public use in its current condition. On January 28, 2020 the Historic Harmar Bridge Company unanimously passed a resolution to close the Harmar Bridge to pedestrian traffic until the structure has been fully restored.
To fully restore the Historic Harmar Bridge, maintain its structural integrity, and create a safe and accessible pathway for pedestrian and bicycle traffic across the Muskingum River, the Save Harmar Bridge initiative aims to raise public and private funds generated from citizens, state and federal grant requests, and other revenue streams.
History of the Bridge
Initially built as a covered bridge in 1856, the Harmar Bridge was converted to a railroad bridge in the 1860s, making it one of the first iron bridges during the Civil War, the oldest swinging railroad bridge in the country, and the only one of its kind still in operation today.
The Work to be Done
To fully restore the Historic Harmar Bridge, maintain its structural integrity and create a safe and accessible pathway for pedestrian and bicycle traffic, the Save Harmar Bridge initiative aims to raise public and private funds generated from citizens, state and federal grant requests, and other revenue streams.
How You Can Help
Save Harmar Bridge is seeking individuals who are passionate about preserving and restoring the Historic Harmar Railroad Bridge for future generations to enjoy. Learn more about how you can get involved in saving this important piece of history!