Of course, here we are a bit off the normal region of FWFH, yet, still firmly nestled in southwestern Pennsylvania.
Another bridge I'm not positive of the name, but would liked to of shown you and this is in Greene County, between Garard's Fort and Kirby on Whitely Creek. A quality covered bridge which could be included in an update 'further up the road' a piece.
I went a little 'light' on this post, but you will surely understand why. There aren't a whole lot of these wonderful structures around our communities anymore. You have to love the sight of them, they really give us pause to stop and take a gander and step backward for a walk into the past. I hope you enjoy the photos and historical material.
The above covered bridge photo is a favorite from my childhood fishing days with my Dad and older brothers. This is King's Bridge on Rt. 653 near Scullton.
On the photo above you can see the picnic area for recreational usage. It also has been upgraded in recent years.
Early construction of the fabled popular bridge goes all the way back to the year 1806, proudly striding across Laurel Hill Creek in Middlecreek Township near the mid-western side of Somerset County. Over 120 feet long, it is technically said to be a Burr truss bridge, which was only invented two years before its creation. What a beauty, eh folks?
This is a covered bridge over the Raystown branch of the Juniata River in Bedford County. This is near Mann's Choice.
Above and below, getting back to Somerset County, you see the Barronvale Bridge which is roughly a mile and a half from King's Bridge upstream.
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| Here is a side view of the Barronvale Bridge looking upstream |
Below is the Lower Humbert covered bridge and another with fond memories attached. Also crossing Laurel Hill Creek, this time further toward the southwest of King's Bridge in Lower Turkey Foot Township of Somerset County and almost as long. A substantial difference in age, as this wonderful bridge was built in 1891. It received extensive rebuilding in 1991, the one hundred year anniversary.
Humbert, on the T312 Covered Bridge Road, at 39.840124 -79.323059 and is still in use on the lower section of a fly fisherman's premium on Laurel Hill Creek. Apparently, there was once an Upper Humbert bridge as well, but sadly, it is no longer in existence. Likely the location was at the swinging bridge, near the delayed harvest. How many years ago that was, I don't know. (Hint, hint!)
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| A pleasant side view of the Lower Humbert bridge |
This bridge is not far from where I caught one of my first decent sized trout, the 'Hunchback of Humbert'. This was the joke about a somewhat deformed fish I caught around 1970 a few holes up from here. I dragged it up over the bank in all my excitement. Well, you just had to be there!
Do yourself a favor, if you haven't done so already. Take a drive the next weekend you and your family are out and about, heading on over to spend an hour or two checking out these fine old bridges. You'll be glad you did!
The Upper Humbert Bridge was at the site of the existing foot bridge. The PA state Game Lands 111 map still notes "covered bridge" at the crossing site. An older man with long family roots in the area I met while hiking and had credible knowledge of other parts of the horse & buggy road network in the area said the upper bridge burned circa 1960.
ReplyDeleteSorry for the lapse of time, there were various problems with the blog as even the company I bought the domain name from ended up taking it from me illegally; and RSSing had to be removed; anyway, thanks for the info, especially of the upper bridge burning,
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