Burkholder Covered Bridge

About

Burkholder Covered Bridge, listed on the National Register as Beechdale Bridge, crosses Buffalo Creek in Brothersvalley Township, Somerset County, northeast of Garrett and southwest of Berlin, just off US 219. It is a Burr arch truss about 52 ft long, built in 1870. The bridge carries Burkholder Bridge Road (Township Route 548) and is open to vehicles.

History

The bridge was built in 1870, and its builder is not known. It is owned by Somerset County. The bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on December 10, 1980, under the name Beechdale Bridge, as part of a group nomination of Somerset County's covered bridges. Uncoveringpa.com reports that it was last rehabilitated in the early 1990s.

Design

A Burr arch truss pairs a long timber arch on each side with a multiple kingpost truss, the two bolted together to share the load. Burkholder has low sidewalls, which leave much of the truss and arch open to view from the road. The bridge is one of ten covered bridges remaining in Somerset County.

Visiting

From Garrett, take US 219 northeast about 2.2 miles from its junction with PA 653, then turn west onto Burkholder Bridge Road (TR 548). The bridge is about 300 ft from the highway. There are several pull-offs along Burkholder Bridge Road, and the bridge remains open to traffic.

Sources: Beechdale Bridge (Wikipedia), Covered Bridges of Somerset County (Uncovering PA), Burkholder or Beechdale 38-56-01 (dalejtravis.com)