The (Not so) Rural Pennsylvanian

  • The Bridges of Chester County, Part I

    This post is just the beginning of the promised photos of covered bridges. I set out on a mission to view and, in most cases, photograph my local covered bridges. For those of you interested in finding these bridges for yourself, I recommend this site. A view of the Knox (Valley Forge) covered bridge can be found in my earlier post.

    Covered bridges were sometimes called “kissing bridges” because they provided some privacy for travellers to sneak a kiss. While at the Mercer’s Mill Covered Bridge, I met a guy who used to bring his girlfriend there from Delaware in the 1980s. So it seems the tradition of young lovers being drawn to covered bridges extended well into the twentieth century.

    The Mercer’s Mills covered bridge.
    Horses hanging out at a nearby farm.

    The Bartram covered bridge straddles the border with Delaware County on Crum Creek. It would make one end, at least, Delaware County’s only covered bridge.

    The Bartram Covered bridge.

    The Gibson covered bridge sits along side a busy road. Traffic through the bridge is only one way. The eastern side has a parking area for access to local hiking in the Brandywine Meadows Preserve.

    The Gibson Covered Bridge.
    The Larkin Covered Bridge – sadly out of use, but it has a walking path nearby.

  • Sherman’s Valley: A Hidden Gem

    Nestled between the mountain ridges in Perry County is Sherman’s Valley. The valley is traversed by Route 274, with its heart in Blain, PA. I came here in search of a couple of covered bridges on Sherman Creek. The narrow valley feels remote due to its situation between two ridge lines. However, it is not to far from Carlisle and Harrisburg.

    It was, unfortunately, quite a gloomy morning when I was there. Here is a sampling of what I saw (and, or course, those covered bridges):

    Farm house across the road – like my grandparent’s former farm.
    The Mount Pleasant Covered Bridge.
    Sherman Creek
    The New Germantown Covered Bridge
    I see these stars all over the place on homes and barns. This one has a twist with the flag motif.
    Great red color on this barn.
    Nestled against the backdrop of mountains.
    I love how this house has been built around a log structure.
    Another great red barn.

  • A Little Bit of This and That

    Sometimes you just encounter some fun or interesting stuff while out with your camera.

    I believe this is a horse-drawn plow.
    The White Rock Forge Covered Bridge
    Right next door is …
    You can’t make this stuff up. I wonder what the origin of the name is. Does the groundhog sleep in on February 2?
    Amish schoolhouse
    a really cool looking small shed
    I loved the shrub in front of this home.

  • Fall in Valley Forge

    Although it seems that fall color was late to arrive and short lived, Valley Forge National Historical Park has non the less supplied some nice views. Here is a sampling from a recent visit.

    Knox Covered Bridge, Tredyffrin Township, Chester County.

     

    Another view of the Knox Covered Bridge.

     

    View of General Knox’s Quarters from the Philander C. Knox Estate.

     

    Recently baled hay near the Knox estate.

     

    Historic pony truss bridge on Wilson Road over Valley Creek.

     

    Lafayette’s Headquarters, later used as a farmhouse and inn. Interesting to see three sections from different time periods.

     

    View of the hillside from the model airplane field at Valley Forge.

  • The Bridges of Columbia County

    Pennsylvania has 219 covered bridges, the most of any state in the US. The bridges were covered to protect the wooden structural supports and allow them to last longer. The also provided shelter for pedestrians and vehicles in bad weather. Columbia County has one of the largest concentrations of covered bridges in Pennsylvania. I photographed some of them on a recent trip.

     

    The Rupert covered bridge. I like the juxtaposition of the train line and the old covered bridge.

     

    A marked bike trail crosses the bridge.

     

    I love the bridges with windows.

     

    The train bridge adjacent to the Rupert covered bridge.

     

    The Wanich covered bridge.

     

    The Creasyville covered bridge.

     

    The Patterson covered bridge with some detail.

     

     

     

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