Bartram Covered Bridge: Spanning History

By George D. Conn and Christopher P. Driscoll

Bartram Covered Bridge: Spanning History chronicles the complete history of Bartram Covered Bridge, located in Newtown Square (southeastern PA), including color and rare photos, community remembrances and much more . All profits from the sale of this book will help fund the ongoing maintenance of the bridge so that future generations may be able to enjoy this beautiful structure listed on National Register of Historic Places. Copyright 2010 Newtown Square Historical Preservation Society & Bartram Bridge Joint Preservation Board. Written by George D. Conn, Christopher P. Driscoll, Eric D. Gerst and Doug P. Humes

• Language: English
• Publisher: eBookIt.com
• Release date: Apr 26, 2016
• ISBN: 9781456601966

Book preview

Conn

Acknowledgments

It was a pleasure to write a book about Bartram Covered Bridge. The more that we researched, the more interesting the story became. The conclusion we came to: Bartram Covered Bridge is a jewel which has been saved by a community and needs to be preserved for our descendants. Its walls have witnessed decades upon decades of history. We have tried to chronicle this history. We hope that you enjoy the trip over the bridge.

We wish to first thank those in the community from the 1930’s to the present, who had the civic passion, foresight and the courage to speak out and act to restore Bartram Covered Bridge to life. Many are not here to receive our acknowledgments and thanks. We ask that their families receive our gratitude on their behalf.

Next, thanks to The Newtown Square Historical Preservation Society for sponsoring this book, and for the members, all volunteers, particularly the Bartram Bridge Joint Preservation Board, who have given lots of inspiration and hard work to preserve the historical icons in our midst. All proceeds from the sale of this book will go toward the future preservation of Bartram Covered Bridge. In addition to the authors, a number of local residents assisted as editorial staff including James Kisela, John Garvey, Kerk Farrell and Judith Radano. Janice Ramsay Elston and Sid Elston have been a tremendous resource assisting as advisors to the book. Selected artists’ work is included in this book and we appreciate their permission to use their work.

In addition we would like to thank the following: Diane Rofini (Librarian) and Pamela Powell (Photo Archivist) at Chester County Historical Society (West Chester, PA); Margaret Johnson at the Delaware County Historical Society (Chester and Media, PA), the Newtown and Willistown Township Board of Supervisors, Township Managers and staff; Jonathan Stayer and Josh Stahlman at the Pennsylvania State Archives, PA Historical & Museum Commission in Harrisburg, PA; Karen Marshall (Heritage Preservation Coordinator) at Chester County Parks & Recreation; Kim Bucklaw (Assistant Archivist) and Cliff Parker (Archivist) at the Chester County Archives & Records Department; Samuel Paley Library at Temple University (Philadelphia Evening Bulletin Archives); Tom Walczak (designer of Bartram Bridge patch), Robert Kuether and Jim Smedley at the Theodore Burr Covered Bridge Society of PA; Jim Stanton of Newtown Square who has painted the bridge at his cost; and local historian Jack Grant of Newtown Square.

Sincerely,

George D. Conn, Christopher P. Driscoll, Eric D. Gerst and Douglas P. Humes

Introduction

First Needed, then cast aside, now preserved - this historical landmark tells the story of the unique American spirit. Built at the time of President Abraham Lincoln was elected, the bridge celebrated its 150th year in 2010.

Bartram Covered Bridge is a story of survival. It is the last covered bridge standing in Delaware County, PA, and is one of only 15 remaining covered bridges in Chester County, PA. Other bridges have been lost to arson, vandalism, neglect, deterioration and removal by government policies.

The beginning chapters of the book will give you a detailed history of the period from 1860- 1940. It will explain why covered bridges were used, the planning and construction of Bartram Covered Bridge, how it got its name, and why the bridge is considered one of a kind in its design. It will also give you a history of the times in which the bridge was built, all the way up to 1941, when the bridge was closed forever to vehicles in the name of "progress".

The middle chapters of the book will give you a living history of the period 1941 to the present. They explain when the bridge changed careers , from transportation (part of the Pennsylvania Highway Transportation Network) to history (transformation through restoration and preservation into an historic landmark). It will also detail how the bridge has been witness to, and has

The Newtown side of the bridge portal just prior to restoration in 1996 (Left) . Source: Bartram Bridge Joint Preservation Board. After restoration in 1996 (Right). Photo: George Conn

endured and survived many events: Civil War political graffiti (the slogan "Lincoln - Save Union and Congress is said to have been placed prominently in flowing letters on an interior arch of the bridge), vandalism, deterioration, decay, flood, blizzards, modern-day graffiti and carvings. It also adds an intriguing mystery - the interior graffiti carving of the words John Boyer Was Killed Here", said to have been carved into the bridge in the late 1800s - murder on the bridge? It also has been the place of romance and marriage proposals. This section also presents an important lesson in democracy: how public citizens and local and state government can combine and mobilize with volunteer efforts and funds to preserve a landmark such as the Bartram Covered Bridge.

Near the end of the book there are a collection of rare archival photos, color photos and artwork of the bridge.

Included in the last section of the book are favorite memories of the Bridge provided by current and former residents, explaining how this historic small piece of land affected each of them. Romance, marriage proposals, fishing with the grandson, quiet reflections, they all appear in this section.

Bartram Covered Bridge is located in a small, quiet 1.3 acre park-like setting in southeastern Pennsylvania, about 15 miles west of Philadelphia, on Goshen Road at its intersection with Boot Road in Newtown Square, PA. The bridge spans Crum Creek between Newtown Township, in Delaware County and Willistown Township, in Chester County. Besides the historical aspects of the bridge structure, the surroundings offer quiet tranquility, park benches, a tall tree canopy, and access to Crum Creek.  It is a favorite spot for families to wade in the creek in the summer, for fishermen to angle for trout or other fish, and for painters and photographers to capture beautiful images of the bridge and its surroundings.

Map of Newtown Square showing location of Bartram Covered Bridge at Goshen and Boot Road intersection. Willistown Township in Chester County is located to the west (left side) and Newtown Township in Delaware County is located to the east (right side). Source: Adapted from Microsoft Bing Maps, 2010.

1

Early History of Bartram Covered Bridge

Although Bartram Bridge was not built until 1860, the legal procedure was begun in 1859. The state Assembly had established specific procedures for erecting bridges. The counties were entrusted with carrying out those procedures. Bartram Bridge spanned Crum Creek, the border between Delaware and Chester Counties, and, thus, would involve the approval of both