Barronvale Covered Bridge

By -
Sometimes you do in fact get lucky.  A recent 6 or 8" blanket of snow, a rare clear winter day with the temperature just around or below freezing, throw in a covered bridge and you have a nearly perfect winter scene.  Such was the case when I came across the Barronvale Covered Bridge on Christmas Eve in 2009.  The Barronvale Covered Bridge or Barron's Mill Bridge crosses Laurel Hill Creek in Western Somerset County.

The Barronvale Covered Bridge on a perfect winter day.
The bridge's origin seems to be somewhat unknown as various sources report 1830, 1846 and 1902 as the bridge's construction date.   At 162 feet, the double span burr arch truss bridge is the longest of the ten remaining covered bridges in Somerset County. The bridge is only open to pedestrians and has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1980.
  
Interior of the Barronvale Bridge and example of the Burr Arch Truss.
Bridge Specs:
  • Number: 38-56-03
  • Built: 1902
  • Design: Burr Arch Truss
  • Length: 162 feet
  • Crosses: Laurel Hill Creek


All photos taken by post author December 24, 2009.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Inwood Iron Bridge - Lebanon County, Pennsylvania

By -
Image
  While the number of historic iron truss and metal truss bridges has been dwindling over the years due to several factors, occasionally a bridge will be preserved for its historical value. Such is the case of the Inwood Iron Bridge, which was built in 1899 and located near Lickdale, Pennsylvania. The Inwood Iron Bridge was fabricated by the Pittsburgh Bridge Company and erected by Nelson and Buchanan of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. It is historically significant as one of the oldest surviving Pennsylvania thru truss highway bridges in Pennsylvania. Early examples of Pennsylvania (Petit) thru-truss highway bridges from before the 20th Century were not common as the design was more often used for railroad bridges. Only a handful of such roadway bridges have been identified around Pennsylvania, making the Inwood Iron Bridge more historically significant. The 151-foot-long Inwood Iron Bridge crossed Swatara Creek and was located not far from Swatara State Park in Lebanon County, Pennsy...
Read more

John Eisenhower Bridge

By -
Image
When you explore the back roads around Gettysburg, you'll most likely find some great things.  Just behind the Eisenhower Farm on Red Rock Road - and not that long of a stroll from Sachs Covered Bridge - is an 1886 iron truss bridge named after Dwight Eisenhower's son, John.  John Eisenhower was an officer in the United States Army, served as the US Ambassador to Belgium, and was a military historian. The John Eisenhower Bridge crosses Willoughby Run, and its use is limited to bicycles and pedestrians.  The 84-foot-long bridge was designed and constructed by Gibert & Smith.  It is a Pratt-through truss design.  Flood waters severely damaged the bridge in 1996.  Two years later, the bridge was completely restored.  In 2012, Adams County completed a project  fully refurbishing the bridge deck. Willoughby Run Like the nearby Sachs Covered Bridge, the Eisenhower Bridge is considered haunted.  It is known locally as the " Suicide Bridge ;" gho...
Read more

Somerfield and the Great Crossings Bridge

By -
Image
West of Addison, US 40 crosses the Youghiogheny River at what once was the town of Somerfield.  When crossing the current modern two lane bridge, you many not realize that it is actually the third to cross the Yough at this site.  The first - a stone arch bridge - was known as the Great Crossings Bridge.  Built in 1818, this three arch bridge was part of the original National Road.  The name Great Crossings comes from the men who forded the Youghiogheny here - George Washington and George Braddock. (1)  If you cross the bridge at the right time, this historic bridge and what was once the town of Somerfield will appear out from underneath this massive man-made lake. Historical Postcard showing the 'Big Crossings' bridge and Somerfield.  Image submitted by Vince Ferrari. The Great Crossings Bridge was located in the town of Somerfield.  Somerfield, originally named Smythfield until 1827, would develop as a result of the National Road. (1...
Read more