(Page One)
Click on Photo Gallery to view photos
Bowser Covered Bridge
April of 2006 I decided to travel to Bedford County in Pennsylvania and photograph their 14 covered bridges. When setting off on an excursion like this you never know what you are going to encounter. I had read some articles on the bridges, but I usually don't take the authors word as law. My wife and I went with open minds as to what we would find. This would be county twenty, and we have had our expectations of the bridges burned out from under us before. Well, not this time, and on with the story...May I say, Bedford County has some of the most beautiful and best maintained bridges in the state and they should be proud as to what they have done to preserve the beautiful heritage of these magnificent structures. And as long as I am giving out the compliments, I will add that I researched the net before embarking to Bedford. I chose to stay at a Mom and Pops motel by the name of Judy's...All I have to say is the people in this motel and the surrounding area were what we call down home folks and a pleasure to visit and associate with...
I did manage to get photos of 12 out of the 14 bridges, this was because the bridge that enters Old Bedford Village(Claycomb) was completely torn down except for the Burr trusses.. They are refurbishing the bridge, it should be reopened by the opening of the summer tourist season of 2006. We also decided not to make the long trip to Palo Alto bridge in the south western part of the county. I am going to wait until Claycomb is finished and I will get both at that time.
Believe me when I say, anyone that enjoys covered bridges and the splendor of them will not regret seeing the beautiful bridges of Bedford County...
Bowser Covered Bridge
This structure was built in 1890 and crosses Bob's Creek, the length of the bridge is 90 ft. and the width is 12ft. 4" utilizing the burr truss. The builder of the bridge is unknown and the owner is Bedford county. The bridge can be found by Route 575, just west of of State Route 869, approximately 1.3 miles northwest of Osterburg in E. St. Clair Twp.
This bridge allows no traffic, there is a modern bridge alongside this structure. The bridge is in very good shape and well maintained. It sits in a beautiful open setting of rolling hills and farm land. This is a must to see bridge and other jewel of Bedford County.
Colvin/Calvin Covered Bridge
The bridge was built in 1880 using the Multiple kingpost design, the structure crosses Shawnee Creek in Napier Twp. The builder is unknown and the county owns and maintains the bridge. The bridge is located on Township Route 443, approximately 1 mile southwest of Shelisburg in Napier Twp. The bridge is open to traffic and in excellent condition. This is one of the very few bridges in Bedford county that utilizes the red barn paint as the other bridges are painted white with a red trim. Again the bridge does sit a a beautiful setting and is a pleasure to photograph.
Cupperts/Cuppett's/New Paris Bridge
This bridge was built in 1882 using the Burr truss and crosses Dunnings Creek. The length is 60 feet and the width is 12 feet. The builder is unknown and the owner at the present date is private. The bridge is not open to traffic but has access to a walk across. The bridge had been refurbished in natural wood not painted like most of the bridges in white. The bridge is in very good condition.
Location of the structure is on the east side of State Route 96 where it has been bypassed, approximately 1 mile north of New Paris in Napier Twp.
Dr. Knisley Covered Bridge
Dr. Knisley bridge was built in 1867 and the builder is unknown and is privately owned. The structure construction utilizes the Burr truss its length is 80ft and width 12 ft. The bridge is only open to foot traffic and it crosses Dunnings Creek. The location of the bridge is just north of State Route 4013, a short distance southwest of State Route 56, approximately 1.4 miles southeast of Pleasantville in West St. Clair Twp.
This bridge is in beautiful condition and the setting surrounding the bridge really does it justice. The bridge is well maintained and one of the nicest in Bedford county. It is a bridge that is nice to photograph no matter the season. Although the bridge is blocked off from any traffic and privately owned there are no "No Trespassing" signs visible on or around the bridge. This is another one of my favorite sites to see in Bedford county...
Felton's Covered Bridge
The bridge was built in 1892 using the Burr truss, its length is 105 ft. and width 12 ft. 6 in. The Builder was W.S. Mullins and is privately owned. The bridge crosses Brush Creek and is only open to foot traffic. The location is off State Route 2029 approximately 1.5 miles west of Jackson Mills in East Providence Twp.
I can say this is one of the most heart breaking sites of covered bridges I had the misfortune of seeing in the state of Pennsylvania. The bridge is hard to get access to because of the over growth of trees, weeds and any other garbage you may encounter on the path. The bridge is in bad need of repair, I personally don't believe it can last a few more years without falling into the creek. It is evident the owners have no interest in this historical structure, the only thing I can see that will save it is if the county acquires it. As you can see by the photo it is close to impossible to get a good photograph of the bridge. Unless something is done I would not waste my time investigating the structure.