Bartram’s Covered Bridge
Goshen & Boot Roads
(1860)
The Bartram Covered Bridge spans the county line between Delaware and Chester Counties over Crum Creek and is located at the intersection of Goshen and Boot Roads in Newtown Square. It is the last covered bridge remaining in Delaware County, a county which once had over 30 covered bridges. The bridge has unique slanted plank portals, the only bridge in Pennsylvania with this unusual design.
Built in 1860 by Ferdinand Wood, who designed the portals to be “Hi and Wide as a Load of Hay,” the bridge is 80 foot long by 13 feet wide. The original cost of $1,133 to build the bridge was shared by Delaware and Chester Counties. It is named for Mordecai Bartram. Pioneered by Theodore Burr, the bridge is supported the Burr Truss, commonly found in Pennsylvania covered bridges of the time. At one time, the words “LINCOLN, Save Union and Congress” were still visibly painted in the bridge. This believed to have been lost during the last restoration in 1995.
The bridge closed to traffic in 1941. The bridge was first repaired in the 1960′s (at the time by the Marple Newtown Historical Society). After years of disrepair, the bridge was restored in 1995, funded by a combination of donations, grants and fundraising. The bridge is maintained by a commission of volunteers representing both Newtown and Willistown Townships. The bridge is on the National Register of Historic Places.
Bartram Bridge Commission
- Eric D. Gerst, Chair (Willistown)
- George Conn, Vice Chair (Willistown)
- Judy Radano (Willistown)
- Kerk Farrell (Newtown)
- John Garvey (Newtown)
- Janice Elston (Newtown)
Contact the Commission
Meetings are held the 2nd Tuesday in January, April, July and October, alternating locations between Newtown and Willistown Township Buildings.
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