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Chester
County, Pennsylvania
(WGN
38-15-13 #2) (WGCB PA-15-13 #2): (1987) A single-span
Burr arch truss 120' 5" over French Creek. Located: On West
Seven Stars Road (TR 522), East Vincent Township, Pennsylvania. Directions:
In Kimberton, Pennsylvania, from the jct. of Kimberton Road and Hares Hill
Road (SR 1045), go north on Hares Hill Road (SR 1045) approximately 0.7
mile to West Seven Stars Road (TR 522). Turn left on West Seven Stars
Road (TR 522) and go 0.3 mile to the bridge. The original 1856 structure
was burned by arsonist on May 10, 1986 and the current replica was built
in 1987. The original bridge was named for a local farmer, Alexander
Kennedy and built at a cost of $2,149.00. The bridge is unique by
being built with a special type of extremely hard wood called Bongossi
from Africa. This type of wood was used for its fire and insect resistant
properties as well as its strength. The structure rests on its original
stone and mortar abutments, built on a concrete foundation. It has
stone and mortar wing walls and parapets, which are capped with concrete.
Its sides are covered with weathered vertical clapboard siding and its
unusual portal design is covered with white painted vertical clapboard
siding. It is open under the eves for ventilation and there is one opposing
wide horizontal window on each side with a small awning-type roof over
the opening. The floor consists of crosswise planking and it has
a cedar shake roof. The original structure was listed on the National
Register of Historic Places on January 21, 1974. (Jun 2008) |
