Update for Knetch Covered Bridge Fire

Knecht's Covered bridge, 1967

It's hard to imagine that a firefighter for the community would try to destroy a historic covered bridge by burning it. But that's exactly what happened. 5 people that attempted to burn the bridge. The bridge wasn't the only thing that they burned, they are accused of setting other fires.

Some of the 5 people accused are still in jail awaiting trial, and some will be charged as adults. While the bridge can be repaired, It's still a shame that the respect for these old historical structures mean so little to some people.

So many covered bridges are lost due to arson, which is a senseless act, once a bridge is burnt, it may be rebuilt, but loses some of the historical features that are present. If the bridge is rebuilt it takes many years to raise the money, and get conntractors that are knowledgable enough to bring it back to the original state that the bridge once way.

Hopefully the tough sentances these people will get will deter others from trying to commint the same act on this bridge or any other bridge.

Arrest made for Arson Attempt - Knecht's Covered Bridge

There is an article out today saying they have made several arrests in the arson attempt on May 22, 2007 of Knecht's covered bridge.

The shocker is that 3 of the 5 people arrested are ex-firemen. They tried to get it to start once, and when that failed they came back with gas and bales of hay.

This is so sad. How and why someone would destroy other's property. It is especially sad when its a historical object to our past.

States that have covered bridges in them are working hard to restore the bridges. Groups that try to preserve covered bridges fight hard for every dollar they get to go into the bridge. They know how much the bridges are an importaint part of our historic past and want to preserve it for future generations. Like my grandfather did taking the photos, and documenting these bridges over the years, for my generation. They don't have to do it, they chose to do it to save these beautiful structures.

Like many others when I heard that the bridge caught fire, it broke my heart. I have spent 4 years of my life scanning, and restoring photos, and getting to know these bridges. While I haven't been to a covered bridge in many years, I still remember how peaceful they were when you walked into one.

I hope that they punish these people to the fullest! With 3 of them being firemen, they should of known the damage and the outage their deed would have to the community.

You can read the article here about the arrests: http://www.mcall.com/news/local/quakertown/all-b1_2arson.5909557jun22,0,1321177.story?coll=all-newslocalquakertown-hed

To see photos of the covered bridges in Bucks county, you can see at fmyphotos.
All of Fred Yenerall Collection is hosted by smugmug.

News Paper Article about Buck County Covered Bridges Festival

Today's Sunday paper for the Philadelphia Inquirer has an article in about the Covered bridge Festival for Bucks County.

You can read the article here. It looks like its going to be a great weekend of fun.


Moods Covered Bridge in 1965. This bridge is from Bucks county, but was destroyed when arsonists set the bridge on fire. The money collected from this event will help save the other bridges.

There are more photos from Bucks county on the website for Fred Yenerall Collection.

Update On Knecht's Covered Bridge

The news is offically calling it Arson that damaged Knecht's Covered bridge.

They have a clip of the news article here .


So far no one has been arrested in this case. This is 2 bridges in 2 weeks that have been damaged in Bucks County, PA.

Moods covered bridge, also in Bucks county was burned 2 years ago by 6 college students.

Bucks county only has 11 covered bridges still standing.

Another Buck's County Covered Bridge Damaged

Overnight another covered bridge in Bucks County, PA has been damaged. The bridge has been damaged by fire, which at this time appears to be Arson.The fire marshal is investigating.

This is the 2nd covered bridge that has been damaged this month in Bucks County, last week Pine Valley Covered Bridge was damaged by an oversize truck.

Another Bucks County covered bridge is waiting to be repaired - Mood's Covered bridge was damaged in 2004 by Arsonists.


Knecht's Covered Bridge taken 1967
Bridge was built in 1873 and restored 1983.

The Bucks county will have a Covered Bidges festival in a few weeks, June 9-10, 2007. There will be tours of covered bridges in Bucks County to raise money for the restorations of the covered bridges in the state of Pennsylvania.

Bucks County Covered Bridge Festival

Bucks County Pennsylvania is having a Covered Bridge festival.

JUNE 9-10, 2007

TINICUM PARK
ROUTE 32 (River Road)
ERWINNA, PA 18920

Events planned:
• Guided walking tours of 2 covered bridges - Erwinna and Uhlerstown Covered Bridges
• Trolley tours of 5 covered bridges - Uhlerstown, Cabin Run, Frankenfield, Loux, and South Perkasie
• Hundreds of fine hand-made arts and crafts booths
• Live entertainment Daisy Jug Band, Jonathan Sprout children’s concert
• Timmy Kelly concerts (1 show each day)
• Give and Take Jugglers (2 shows daily)
• Magical Illusions of Kyle and Kelly (2 shows daily)
• Face painters, pony rides, petting zoo
• Lots of great food
• Wine tasting, hot air balloon rides, lots more fun for the whole family!!

View the way the bridges looked back in the 1960s and 1970's -
(This is my first attempt at making a video)



You can still purchase tickets for 1/2 price here. Its still a bargain even if you pay fullprice, it is $15.00 per car which includes parking, and the tours of the covered bridges.

All proceeds from the festival will go to help preserve the covered bridges in Pennsylvania. The festival will benefit the Theodore Burr Covered Bridge Society of Pennsylvania, and The National Society for the Preservation of Covered Bridges, among others.

There are many bridges in Pennsylvania that need restored, and rehabilitated, and as you know from one of my previous post, another covered bridge was damaged in May 2007.
Pine Valley Covered bridge which is located in Bucks County was damaged earlier this week by an oversized truck.

Make Plans now to come out and enjoy youself while helping to preserve historic covered bridges, many being built in the 1800's.

Bucks county has 11 covered bridges still standing, and will have 12 as soon as Mood's Covered bridge is restored since being destroyed by arsonists in 2004. At one time Bucks county had 36 covered bridges standing.

I know if my Grandfather Fred Yenerall was still alive today, he would already have his tickets purchased. I wish I was able to make the festival, It sounds like a great time for the family.

Pine Valley Covered Bridge Damaged

Bucks County Pennsylvania has to be devastated today about news that an oversized truck has damaged the roof and beams of Pine Valley Covered Bridge. The driver didn’t stop after the incident. Police are still searching for the driver of the truck.

Pine Valley covered bridge
Photo Date 1968

Pine Valley Covered bridge was built in 1842. It is one of twelve bridges still standing in the county. Having recently undergone restoration in 2006 to repair deck beams, this 81 foot long bridge is made of hemlock and pine.

Buck's County Pennsylvania Covered Bridges

Mood's Covered Bridge Bucks County, Pennsylvania

Mood's Covered bridge Taken 1965

In the early morning hours on June 21, 2004 this bridge was destroyed when 6 local college kids set the bridge of fire. This bridge was repaired and rebuilt in 1997 after a truck damaged the bridge in 1993. It also had heavy steel beams to its structure, under the deck in the 1990's.

PennDOT is going to repair the bridge back again, to its original appearance with a few modifications. The bridge which was built in 1874. They will raise the clearance from the original 11 feet 2 inches to 14 feet 1 inch. They will take about 5 inches off the surface to give the bridge a total clearence of 14 feet 6 inches. The width of the bridge was only 11 feet wide, which made it a one lane bridge. They are now deciding if they want it to be open only for one-way traffic or not. If they restore it to orginial, it will be a one lane bridge. The plans does say that it will be painted red and white. In 1965 when this photo was taken the bridge was white. I have seen recent photos of this bridge that show it as being red.

Article found about the restoration project.

Sholfield also known as Twining Ford Photo taken 1975

Other bridges in Buck's County that have been arsoned include Scholfield - also known as Twining Ford Covered Bridge, which was built in 1873. It was by destroyed by arson on October 7, 1991 - and was rebuilt, it opened on September 7, 1997.

Haupt's Mill Photo Taken 1972

Haupts Mill which was built in 1872 was destroyed by arson in 1985, it was never rebuilt.

All of the Fred Yenerall Collection photos for Bucks County, Pennsylvania can been seen here.

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All photos from The Fred Yenerall Collection
are copyrighted by FMYPhotos.
Photos can be made into prints- suitable for framing.
Photos are hosted at smugmug