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Bartram's Covered Bridge facts for kids

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Bartram's Covered Bridge
Bartrams Bridge NRHP.JPG
Bartram's Covered Bridge
Bartram's Covered Bridge is located in Pennsylvania
Bartram's Covered Bridge
Location in Pennsylvania
Bartram's Covered Bridge is located in the United States
Bartram's Covered Bridge
Location in the United States
Location Legislative Route 15098, west of Newtown, Pennsylvania
Area less than one acre
Built 1860
Built by Ferdinand Wood
Architectural style Burr truss
MPS Covered Bridges of Chester County TR
NRHP reference No. 80003462
Added to NRHP December 10, 1980

Bartram's Covered Bridge is a very old and special covered bridge. It was built way back in 1860. This bridge uses a unique design called a Burr Truss. It used to carry Goshen Road over Crum Creek. This spot is right on the edge between Delaware County and Chester County in Pennsylvania.

The bridge is about 30 feet (9 meters) long and 13 feet (4 meters) wide. It's super important because it's the only covered bridge left in Delaware County. There used to be 30 of them! Bartram's Covered Bridge also has slanted wooden planks at its entrances. This is a very rare feature. In fact, it's the only covered bridge in all of Pennsylvania with these slanted planks.

Bartram's Covered Bridge: A Historic Landmark

This historic bridge was built by a person named Ferdinand Wood. It was named after Mordecai Bartram. An old sign near the bridge says it was made "hi and wide as a load of hay." This meant it was tall and wide enough for wagons full of hay to pass through easily.

Where Is It Now?

Bartram's Covered Bridge was closed to cars and trucks in 1941. Today, it stands right next to a newer bridge on Goshen Road. The eastern side of the bridge is in Newtown Township, Delaware County. The western side is in Willistown Township, Chester County.

A National Treasure

Because of its history and unique design, Bartram's Covered Bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. This list includes important places that are worth protecting.

  • Bartrams Bridge w portal

    Slanted planks on the western entrance

  • Bartram's Covered Bridge, Spanning Crum Creek, Newtown Square vicinity (Willistown-Newtown Townships), Newtown Square, Delaware County, PA HABS PA,15-WHIHO.V,3-1

    HABS photo from around 1965

  • Bartrams Bridge interior

    Inside the bridge, looking west, showing the Burr truss design

  • Bartram's Covered Bridge, Spanning Crum Creek, Newtown Square vicinity (Willistown-Newtown Townships), Newtown Square, Delaware County, PA HABS PA,15-WHIHO.V,3-3

    HABS photo from around 1965

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