Schofield Ford Covered Bridge - Newtown, PA
Posted by: 
ODragon
N 40° 14.659 W 074° 58.842
18T E 501641 N 4454874
A covered bridge in a state park.
Waymark Code: WM55XZ
Location: Pennsylvania, United States
Date Posted: 11/16/2008
Views: 21
From the onsite informational plaque:
Between 1869 and 1871, the citizens of Newtown and Northampton townships petitioned the Bucks county commissioners to build a bridge connecting their two communities. They wanted relief from the burden of braving ice floes and rising waters at the shallows, or ford, near the present site of the Schofield Ford Covered Bridge. By 1873, the bridge was completed, and for the next 118 years, it played an important - and changing - role in the social and economic life of Bucks county.
On October 7th, 1991, fire destroyed the beloved bridge. Within half an hour, the old wooden planks that had borne the weight of merchants, neighbors, lovers and strangers for more than a century collapsed into the creek. Black smoke rose from the bridge's ashes, signaling a grievous loss throughout the region.
The next six years saw a remarkable outpouring of volunteer spirit and tenacity. Neighbors and friends of Tyler State Park and the Schofield Ford Bridge researched the history of the bridge and rallied support. Together, they raised a timber frame barn to practice for the construction of the bridge, and then they rebuild the bridge itself - true to its original standards.
Current Condition of Bridge: Excellent
Description of Covered Bridge:
Length: 166 ft.
Width: 17 ft.
Originally Built 1836
Rebuilt: 1997
Stream: Neshaminy Creek
Traffic: no
Truss: Combination of QueenPost and Town Lattice
Bridge Number: PA-09-13
It has 2 spans
Year Built: 1997
Parking (If not at the bridge):: N40 14.879 W74 58.515
Location (Road - City - State - Country): Tyler State Park - Newtown - PA - USA
Web Address: Not listed
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