New covered bridge over the Mohican River is a dream come true for this canoe enthusiast

The Mohican River is my happy place. Has been for 43 years, from the day I first plopped myself into a canoe at what was then Mohican Canoe Livery.

This year, it will be an even happier place. The Mohican River will gain a covered bridge and lose what’s left of Brinkhaven Dam.

By fall, work should be completed on the covered bridge at what is known as Spellacy. For outsiders or the geographically challenged, that’s on Wally Road, between Arrow Point and The Lost Horizons campgrounds. Or, looking at the bigger picture, between Loudonville and Greer.

New covered bridge coming:Spellacy bridge's iron span to be replaced with wood

It will replace a failing truss bridge. Like the Bridge of Dreams downstream near Brinkhaven, the Spellacy Covered Bridge is the result of people who dared to dream big. Like the Bridge of Dreams and the Mohican State Park Covered Bridge upstream on Clear Fork, it was conceived to enhance the character of Ohio’s most popular river corridor.

Not everyone sees it that way. Some have referred to it — sight unseen — as an eyesore. Then there are those who are against anything that might draw tourists to the Mohican.

Judging from drawings of the new covered bridge, I can’t imagine it would be an eyesore. Unless someone plasters advertising signs on it or festoons it with some sort of flashing electronic monstrosity beaming messages to motorists or boaters.

Regardless, anything would be an improvement over the soulless freeway style bridges that have replaced the graceful truss structures that spanned the Mohican in days gone by.  (For the record, the bridge it replaces is a truss style structure.)

Lose your way and find yourself in Mohican Country

This tourist season there will be much weeping and gnashing of teeth (and gears) among tourists traveling to and from the campgrounds along Wally Road. Especially those with huge RVs.

I feel your pain.

On the other hand, think of it as an opportunity to explore the backroads of Mohican Country. Chances are, you’ll become lost. But that’s alright; lose your way and find yourself.

For me, Brinkhaven has always been a happy place within a happy place. It was the very first place I camped along the river. I’ve always found it soothing to listen to the sound of water rushing over what’s left of the lowhead dam. Locals removed the right side of the dam in the late ’70s because they were tired of fishing drowned canoeists out of the river.

Even with the right side of the dam removed, paddling through the rock-and-concrete debris can be a hair-raising experience. The abrupt gradient drop can partially swamp your canoe or kayak. During low water, the debris gouges your hull.

Once you get past the debris, you must quickly maneuver your boat back to the middle of the river to avoid bridge piers and rock gardens.

Just downstream of the dam is the old bridge into Brinkhaven. It’s been closed to vehicle traffic since at least the late ’70s. The ice storm of 2005 damaged the bridge and a section of the deck was removed.

Originally — when the Nature Conservancy proposed removing the rest of the dam — there was talk of removing the old bridge. I was devastated. Long ago I had designated it as the spot from where I’d like my ashes scattered. Preferably after I die.

I often wandered out onto the bridge to admire the river. On one occasion, I pitched my tent on the old roadway and spent the night there. One spring afternoon, I stopped there to look at the river and an old man came along. He had lived in Brinkhaven all his life and regaled me with the history of the village — as seen through his own eyes.

He talked of fishing from the dam, which had been 4 feet higher — and of the woolen mill and gristmill that were there. It was a thriving town, home to more than a thousand souls.

I told him I’d love to see pictures of what it was like. He was only too happy to accommodate me. The old man took me to a house in the village where he introduced me to the residents — a couple of elderly folks. We spent the rest of the afternoon poring over old snapshots.

I never dreamed that someday I might be standing on the Brinkhaven bridge and see the dam debris finally gone.

Perhaps someday I’ll be standing on that bridge — or the Spellacy Covered Bridge — and some young paddlers, bicyclists, or hikers will come along. Maybe I can regale them with more recent history and Mohican River lore.

Given the attitude of people these days, some might be inclined to say, “Dream on.”

That’s all right. Sometimes dreams bring good things.

This article originally appeared on Ashland Times Gazette: New Spellacy Covered Bridge should be asset to Mohican River fans