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Carbon
County, Pennsylvania
(WGN
38-13-01) (WGCB PA-13-01): (1898;
relocated 1971) A single-span multiple Kingpost truss 87' 5" over
a dry creek gulch. Located: In Beltzville State
Park, Franklin Township, Pennsylvania. Directions: At the jct.
of US 209 and Beltzville State Park Road, just northeast of the PA Turnpike
entrance, go north on Beltzville State Park Road and follow the signs to
the park. After passing the park boundary sign, enter the park on
the second road on the right. Pass the Park Office to the first road
on the right; turn right and then left at the next road which leads to
the parking area. The bridge is just to the right of the parking
area. There is some controversy as to when the bridge was built.
The
World Guide Of Covered Bridges lists the date built as 1898
while a sign on the bridges portal indicates "Built 1841." In 1970,
when the Beltzville Dam was built to create a Lake and State Park Recreation
Area, the bridge was moved, from its location along the Pohopoco Creek,
which is the water source for the lake, by the U.S. Corps of Engineers,
to its present location over dry land in the Park's Recreation Area. In
addition, the World Guide Of Covered Bridges lists its truss as
Howe, however when reconstructed the truss system was apparently changed
from a Howe to its present multiple Kingpost. It is closed to motor
traffic. The structure rests on poured concrete abutments with decorative
short stone and mortar parapet like structures at both ends. There
are also three metal piers supporting the bridge. It is covered with
barn red painted horizontal ship lapped boarding on the portals and the
lower third of its sides exposing the upper part of the multiple Kingpost
truss. The floor consists of wide crosswise boarding and two three
board lengthwise runners and a cedar shake roof. Also known as the
Bucks
Covered Bridge. (May 2009) |
