Veterans posted colors from Newton Falls, the Pledge of Allegiance was said, and the national anthem was sung at this reopening ceremony of the Newton Falls historic covered bridge built in 1831.

 

The bridge has withstood tornados and adverse weather such as ice storms and floods. The walkway was added in 1921. Plus historical restoration work took place from 2004 to 2007.

 

"This bridge is important because it's part of my history, it's part of your history, it's part of our history," Connie Smith Talcott said.

 

Mayor David Hanson who believes in building bridges between people welcomed folks. He says this bridge connects the proud history of Newton Falls's past to its present day. 

 

"This bridge is a panacea for moving things across difficult issues and times. It brings people together," Mayor David Hanson said. 

 

 The Mayor and Newton Falls residents thank Trumbull County Engineer Randy Smith for the historical structural repairs needed to reopen the bridge after a driver struck several of the support beams on February 10th, 2022.

 

Mayor Hanson gave guest speaker and former congressman and former mayor of Cleveland Dennis Kucinich a key to the city. 

 

Kucinich reminds folks the bridge was built when Andrew Jackson was the President of the United States. 

 

Andrew Jackson was the 7th President of the United States. "This is a very important day, not just for this city, but for the city of Ohio as well, and nationally because it's one of the oldest covered bridges around," Kucinich said.

 

Although the bridge will be open again, truck traffic is not allowed on the bridge listed on a National Register of Historic Places.