Fischtner Covered Bridge

About

Fischtner Covered Bridge, also spelled Fichtner and known as the Palo Alto Bridge, crosses Gladdens Run in Londonderry Township, Bedford County, north of Stringtown and near Hyndman. It is a 56-foot wooden bridge built in 1880. It has been bypassed and now gives access to private homes, so it is not open to public traffic.

History

The bridge was built in 1880. No builder is named in the sources used here. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on April 10, 1980, as part of the Bedford County Covered Bridges multiple property submission. Uncoveringpa.com reports that it once carried the roadway before being bypassed, and that it is posted against trespassing.

Design

Unlike most Bedford County covered bridges, it does not use a Burr arch. Wikipedia, drawing on the National Register nomination, describes a kingpost truss with low side walls, and the Bedford County PAGenWeb bridge list classes it as a multiple kingpost. In a multiple kingpost truss, a series of vertical posts with diagonal braces between them carry the load across the span.

Visiting

The bridge is just off PA 96, south of Kennells Mill Road (SR 3002), according to the PAGenWeb list and uncoveringpa.com. It is on private property. Uncoveringpa.com notes that there is little room to park, with a spot or two along Kennells Mill Road, and asks visitors not to block the bridge. View it from the public road.

Sources: Fischtner Covered Bridge (Wikipedia), Covered Bridges of Bedford County (Uncovering PA), Bedford County Covered Bridges (PAGenWeb)