Bartram Covered Bridge: Spanning History

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George D. Conn. Bartram Covered Bridge: Spanning History

Acknowledgments

Introduction

1. Early History of Bartram Covered Bridge

Building Bartram Bridge (1859-1860)

Justifying the need for a Bridge

Selecting the Bridge Builder

The Final Legal Steps

How Much Money was Ferdinand Wood Paid?

The “Other” Bartram Covered Bridge

Covered Bridges of Newtown Square & Willistown

2. Newtown & Willistown in 1860

A Bloody Divorce

Newtown and Willistown Townships

Taking the Census

The "Turnpike" and the Village

Willistown Township

The Railroads

Crum Creek

Construction of the Bridge

3. Eight Decades of Loyal Service

A Public Outcry Saves Bartram Bridge

4. About Covered Bridges. Why Were Bridges Covered?

Trusses

The Burr Arch Truss

A Brief History of Covered Bridges. The World

The United States

Pennsylvania

Delaware & Chester Counties

The Movement to Save Covered Bridges

5. Unique Features of Bartram Bridge. Interior – Political Graffiti & Murder?

Exterior – Two Unique Features

Iron Gates

One of a kind Portal Design

6. History of Goshen Road

First Section of Goshen Road runs east towards Haverford

Second Section of Goshen Road runs west to Willistown and Goshen

After the Revolution: From Busy Highway to Sleepy Byway

7. Transformation: 1941

Bartram Bridge "Moved" in 1941?

In 1941, Bartram Covered Bridge changes "Careers" From Transportation to History

8. Deterioration: 1950s

9. The Rescue Begins: 1960s

Anne Wright Recollection of Saving the Bridge

10. Iron Gates & Fundraising: 1970s. 1970 - Marple-Newtown Historical Society installs Iron Gates to Stop Vandalism and Graffiti

11. Private Bridge Land Becomes Public: 1970s - 1980s. Private Property Donated for use by the Public

The Kirk Family Donation of the Newtown side of the Bridge

The Stengel Family Donation of The Willistown Side Of the Bridge

12. Community Restoration: 1990s. 1993 - Ordinances establish the Bartram Bridge Joint Preservation Board

1994 - 1995 Planning the Restoration of Bartram Covered Bridge

1996 - Full Restoration of the Bridge & Celebration

1999 - Hurricane Floyd flood waters come within 6 Inches of destroying the Bridge

Crum Creek

13. Preservation: 2000s. 2001 "And the Flag Was Still There" Remembering 9-11

2002- Focus on Landscaping

2003-2004 Photo Contests

2010 - The Bridge Survives a Record Snowstorm - The Blizzard of 2010

2010- The Bartram Covered Bridge Becomes 150 Years Old

Improvements to the Bridge

Contributions to Preserve the Bridge

What’s in a Name?

In Memoriam – Madaleen J. Ellis

14. Color Scenes & Photos

15. Original Artwork

16. Archival & Rare Photos

Community Remembrances

SUMMER WEEKENDS: Dolly Dulaney of Newtown Square, PA

STOPPING THE VANDALISM: Sid Elston of Newtown Square, PA

BRINGING GUESTS TO THE BRIDGE: Alice Wade Stackhouse of Pinehurst, NC

THE BRIDGE FOR ROMANCE: Janice Ramsay Elston of Newtown Square, PA

MARRIAGE PROPOSAL: Donna Beisel of Newtown Square, PA

CARVED INITIALS: Jean M. Stone Neel of Berwick, PA

SUNDAY AFTERNOONS: Richard Barnes of Drexel Hill, PA

DURING THE AIR RAIDS OF WORLD WAR II: Janet Mary Stone Goldhahn of Garnet Valley, PA

REMEMBERING ALICE GRIMM & THE LINCOLN SLOGAN: Kathryn Collins Kearns of Broomall, PA

BRIDGE BECOMES PHOTOGRAPHY STUDENT’S PRIZE: Ginny Dellar of West Chester, PA

THE BRIDGE TELLS ME I’M HOME: Andrew J. Radano of West Irondequoit, NY

LEARNING ABOUT TIME: Matthew J. Radano of Malvern, PA

AS A KID AT THE BRIDGE: Douglas Humes of Broomall, PA

PUBLIC NOTICES HUNG IN THE BRIDGE: Jack Kirk (son of Lew Kirk) of Greensboro, NC

THE BRIDGE AND THE “BOOP” STREAM: Douglas Humes of Broomall, PA

SATURDAYS AT THE BRIDGE WITH RAY: Eric D. Gerst of Willistown Township, PA

A BACKDROP FOR WEDDING PHOTOS: Tammy and Scot Carriker of Newtown Square, PA

BIKE RIDES TO THE BRIDGE WITH MY BROTHER: Kerk Farrell of Newtown Square, PA

MY FIRST COVERED BRIDGE: John Graves of Modena, PA

A BRIDGE OVER PEACEFUL WATERS: Lewis P. Bird of Newtown Square, PA

EXCITING HISTORICAL DISCOVERIES: Chris Gallagher of Willistown Township, PA

A FAVORITE PHOTO BACKDROP: Barbara Murray of Upper Darby, PA

RESTORING THE BRIDGE: Edward Johnston of Newtown Square, PA

BUCOLIC SETTING IN OUR GROWING SUBURBS: Judith Radano of Malvern, PA

INITIALS CARVED ON THE BRIDGE: Anne Wright of Newtown Square, PA

VISITING WITH MY DOGS: Patricia Gallagher of Willistown Township, PA

Appendix. Ferdinand Wood- Builder of Bartram Bridge

Covered Bridge Terminology

Bibliography

About the Authors

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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.

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“Israel bid on the bridge but lost by about $100 - however much of the timbers were cut from his land, so possibly he made out OK!!”

We also know that, in that same year of 1860, Ferdinand Wood was building another covered bridge in northern Maryland. We can speculate that Wood was busy traveling back-and-forth as he directed the construction at both sites. He most likely had a foreman and a number of workers at each site.

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