Cope's Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Cope's Bridge
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| Nearest city | Marshallton, Pennsylvania |
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| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1807 |
| Architectural style | Stone arch bridge |
| NRHP reference No. | 85000465 |
| Added to NRHP | March 7, 1985 |
The Cope's Bridge is a very old stone bridge in Chester County, Pennsylvania. It carries Strasburg Road (also known as Pennsylvania Route 162) over the East Branch Brandywine Creek. This historic bridge is located in East Bradford Township.
It's so important that it's listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's recognized as a special part of American history. You can find it in an area called the Taylor-Cope Historic District.
Contents
What is Cope's Bridge?
Cope's Bridge is a type of bridge called an arch bridge. This means it uses strong, curved arches to support its weight. It's built from stone, making it very sturdy and long-lasting.
This bridge helps people and cars cross the East Branch Brandywine Creek. It connects different parts of the area. Imagine how hard it would be to cross a wide creek without a bridge!
Where is this Historic Bridge?
Cope's Bridge is in East Bradford Township, which is in Chester County, Pennsylvania. It's near the town of Marshallton, Pennsylvania.
The bridge is located at these coordinates: 39°57′31.9″N 75°39′19.3″W / 39.958861°N 75.655361°W. These numbers help pinpoint its exact spot on a map.
A Look Back: The Bridge's History
Before any bridge was built here, people called this spot Taylor's Ford. A "ford" is a shallow place in a river where you can cross by walking or driving. But crossing a ford can be tricky, especially when the water is high!
Early Bridges at Taylor's Ford
The very first bridge at this location was probably made of timber, which is wood. It was built around the year 1770. People had to pay money to help build it, which is called "funding by subscription."
This wooden bridge was later replaced by another one in 1789. So, for many years, wooden bridges helped people cross the creek.
Building the Stone Arch Bridge
Over time, the wooden bridges started to wear out. By 1804, people were complaining that the bridge was falling apart. They asked the Court of Chester County to build a stronger stone bridge instead.
The county agreed, and the stone Cope's Bridge was built in 1807. It cost a lot of money back then, about $26,911.03. That was a huge amount for the time!
Cope's Bridge Today
Even though it was built over 200 years ago, Cope's Bridge is still used every day. It continues to carry traffic across the creek. This shows how well it was built and how important it is to the community.
It's amazing to think that a bridge built so long ago is still helping people get where they need to go!
