Somerset County
Covered Bridges
Barronvale Covered Bridge
There are ten remaining covered bridges in Somerset County. This county also has the distinction of having the highest point in the state of Pennsylvania, which is Mount Davis with an elevation of 3,213 feet. I can vouch for this, I think I came down an old logging road looking for a covered bridge and it was straight down. Sometimes GPS units can be deceiving.
Somerset County has some of the most beautiful landscapes to show off their beautiful bridges. I have found in all the counties I have visited through out our state photographing covered bridges, that our western counties have some of the best maintained and landscaped properties around these structures. There has been a lot of money and effort spent toward the reconstruction and upkeep of all their bridges.
Barronvale Covered Bridge
(GPS N39 57.17 W79 16.22)
(#38-56-03)
Barronvale Bridge was built in 1902 and utilizes the Burr Truss. The
bridge crosses Laurel Hill Creek in Middlecreek Township. The structure
was bypassed by State Route 3014 in Barronvale. The length of the bridge
is 162 ft. 3 in. and the width is 13 ft. 10 in. Barronvale is privately
owned and in good condition it is only open to foot traffic. The date of
construction for this bridge as noted on the name plate is 1830; but
like all our covered bridges that are differences in the date. The state
survey lists it as 1846 and the World Guide to Covered Bridges and
Zacher list it as 1902.
Burkholder Covered
Bridge
GPS N39 52.91 W79 02.07)
(#38-56-01)
Burkholder (also known as Beechdale) Covered Bridge was built in 1870
and used the Burr Truss in its construction. The bridge crosses Buffalo
Creek in Brothers Valley Township, the length of the structure is 52 ft.
and the width is 12 ft. it is in good condition and open to vehicle
traffic. This structure is owned and maintained by the county.
Glessner Covered
Bridge
(GPS NN40 01.56 W78 55.25)
(#38-56-08)
Glessner Bridge was built in 1881 by Tobias Glessner, he utilized the
Burr Truss in its construction. The bridge crosses Stony Creek in Stony
Creek Township north of Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Glessner is 90 feet
long and 12 feet wide, it is in good condition and open to vehicular
traffic. This structure is owned and maintained by Somerset County.
Kings Covered Bridge
(GPS N39 56.25 W79 16.27)
(#38-56-06)
King's bridge was built in 1906 and used the Burr Truss, it crosses
Laurel Hill Creek in Middlecreek Township west of New Lexington, Pa. it
has been bypassed by State Route 653. The bridge is 127 feet long and 12
feet wide, it is privately owned and in excellent condition, this bridge
has just recently been refurbished. This is another bridge with
conflicting dates of construction, the date that use to be posted on the
bridge stated it was built in 1802. This would be hard to believe
because the bridges in this area were not built until the later part of
the nineteenth century. The World Guide to Covered Bridges has it listed
at 1906.
Lower Humbert
Covered Bridge
(GPS N39 50.41 W79 19.38)
(#38-36-12)
Lower Humbert (also known as Faidley Bridge) was built in 1891 and
crosses Laurel Hill Creek in Lower Turkeyfoot Township. The Burr Truss
was used in construction of this structure, it is 126 feet long and 12
feet wide. Humbert is in good condition and open to vehicular traffic,
the county owns and maintains this bridge. I really enjoyed
photographing this bridge, there were so many angles I could get into
for a good shot, this does not occur at other bridges with all the under
growth. This is one structure that made a terrific model.
New Baltimore
Covered Bridge
(GPS N39 59.21 W78 46.34)
(#38-56.09)
This bridge was built in 1879 and crosses the Raystown Branch, Juniata
River, it is 86 feet long and 12 feet wide. The construction of this
bridge used the Multiple kingpost, it is in good condition and
frequently used by vehicular traffic. The bridge is located in New
Baltimore, Pa., on Township Route 812. Somerset County owns and
maintains this bridge. This was another structure I had fun
photographing.
Packsaddle Covered
Bridge
(GPS N39 52.05 W78 49.03)
(#3856-02)
Packsaddle (also known as Doc Miler Bridge) was built using the Multiple
kingpost design, the year of construction was 1870. The bridge crosses
Brush Creek in Fairhope Township, the structure is 48 feet long and 14
feet wide, it is in good condition and open to vehicular traffic.
Packsaddle is owned and maintained by the county. This of course is not
my favorite bridge in Somerset County, but it most certainly is my most
favorite landscaped bridge that I was ever fortunate enough to find. You
have to go over a steep embankment downstream from the bridge to get to
the creek floor, once you do you will be twice rewarded. The setting of
this bridge is over a gorgeous water fall, I was lucky enough to be
there when the flow was substantial for a good photo (see my Photo
Album)
Shaffer's Covered
Bridge
(GPS N40 16.87 W78 57.84)
(#38-56-11)
Shaffer's (also known as Bens Creek Bridge) was built in 1877 and
crosses Ben's Creek in Conemaugh west of Bens Creek, Pa. The bridges
length is 68 feet and the width is 13 feet. it is in fair condition
(leans a little). This bridge is open to vehicular traffic and is owned
and maintained by the county.
Trostletown
Covered
Bridge
(GPS N40 05.77 W78 56.72)
(#38-56-10)
Trostletown (also known as Kantner Bridge) was built in 1845 and uses
the Multiple kingpost in its design, it crosses Stony Creek in
Quemahoning Township in Stoystown Lions Club Park. The bridge is 104
feet long and 12 feet wide, it is in fair condition. The bridge is
suppose to be opened to foot traffic but it would be difficult to cross
it with all the equipment that was stored inside. The structure was
surrounded with a beautiful landscape and did give a photographer some
nice angles, except a nice depth shot, this was because of all the
equipment and not being able to see the other side of the structure.
Trostletown was taken over in 1965 by the Stoystown Lions Club which
undertook the job of restoring and preserving the bridge.
Walter's Mill Covered
Bridge
(GPS N40 04.20 W79 04.83)
(#38-56.05)
Walter's Mill / Coxes Creek Bridge was built in 1830 utilizing the Burr
Truss. The bridge crosses Haupts Run in Somerset Historical Center
grounds. The bridge was built by Christian Ankeny and Jacob Walter and
was originally located over Coxes Creek four miles south of Somerset, Pa.
The bridge is 60 feet long and 12 feet wide, it is in good condition and
only open to foot traffic, this structure is owned and operated by the
state. The landscape around the bridge is well taken care of and their
are many more photo opportunities besides the bridge to be found on the
Historical Center grounds.