Old Letters about Washington County Covered Bridges

Grandpap had a map for almost every county in Pennsylvania. Here he would write notes and have directions to the bridges, churches, and mills. While I knew there was sheets in there with the bridges listed on the counties, I found some interesting things. I plan on scanning them to get them online, but here are some interesting things I learned in the letter that was written By Fred Collins about Washington County, PA Covered Bridges. The date of the letter is 7/17/74.

Background on the reason of the letter: It appears that this is the time that my Grandfather took over marking the covered bridges on the Washington County Maps for The Theodore Burr Covered Bridge Society in PA. This looks like a letter that was sent to members about the new 'map-marker' Fred Yenerall as well as the update on the conditions of the Washington County, PA Bridges.


Informative Information on the letter -

THIS IS THE INFORMATION THAT WAS DATED in 1974! Things have changed some.

- Washington County has been painting the bridges red since about 1964. Before 1964 All the bridges were unpainted and rustic- looking.

- Thompson Covered bridge, was removed during 1965

- Pine Bank Covered bridge was moved to Washington county from Greene County by Mr. Albert Miller. It is now part of Meadowcroft Village which is Western Pennsylvania's Answer to Sturbridge Village in Massachusetts. There is an admission charged for entry into the Village.

- Longdon - The bridge's life is threatened by a flood control program for the Wheeling Creek.

- Bailey - Bridge was restored and the only bridge in the county that is a Burr Truss. It is the 1st bridge to be painted Red. It was restored in 1964 and has been pained regularly since. In 1967 a picnic ground was added at the south end of the bridge.

- there used to be 2 bridges that border with Greene county, But Hawkins was burnt down . Now only Davis Bridge is on the border. (notes from my Grandfather - Hawkins - Burned 6/28/74)

- Hughs is right besides a cloverleaf for Interstate 79. When the I-79 was built the water under the bridge changed. Where it used to be a stream it's now backwater. The bridge is by-passed, and now there is a stairway leading down the hill to get to the bridge.

- Wright Bridge, and Ebeneezer can be seen from the Interstate. The Wright Bridge was the 2nd bridge in Washington County that was painted.

- Ebeneezer is named for the church on the north side of the road. It has been cut off from the Church by the Interstate highway. It was used for a garage, and rumor has it that it may be moved to Mingo Park up near the Henry Bridge. (it has been moved)


Note at Bottom of letter:

Come prepared for hilly country and dirt roads that are muddy in the Spring. Make sure your gas tank is filled, especially now. There never were many gas stations in the hills.

The letter was signed by Fred Collins.
Third Vice President


While it was only a 2 page letter it gave alot of good information on the bridges in Washington County in the 1970's.


As far as the new website, I'm still working on it. It has to be done by December. So keep looking for it. (probably at the last minute I will have it ready.)