Herline Covered Bridge

About

Herline Covered Bridge, also spelled Heirline, crosses the Raystown Branch of the Juniata River north of Manns Choice, on the line between Harrison and Napier Townships in Bedford County. It is a 136-foot, single-span Burr truss bridge built in 1902, the longest covered bridge in the county. It carries Watson Road and is open to traffic.

History

The bridge was built in 1902; a Visit Bedford County tour guide gives 1906, but the National Register and the World Guide to Covered Bridges give 1902. Coveredbridges.net says it replaced the Kinton Bridge of the 1870s and is named for the Herline family, local landowners. No builder is recorded. Flood damage in 1983 closed the bridge, and it was refurbished and reopened in 1997, according to coveredbridges.net (dalejtravis.com also lists a 1997 restoration). 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.

Design

It is a Burr truss with a medium-pitched gable roof. In a Burr truss, a long timber arch on each side is combined with a multiple kingpost truss, and the arch ends bear on the abutments. Coveredbridges.net notes vertical siding covering about two-thirds of the sides.

Visiting

From PA 31 (Allegheny Road), 0.9 mile northeast of its junction with PA 96 in Manns Choice, take Watson Road (SR 4005) northwest for 0.4 mile to the bridge, according to dalejtravis.com. The bridge carries Watson Road and is open to vehicles.

Sources: Heirline Covered Bridge (Wikipedia), Herline 38-05-11 (dalejtravis.com), Herline Covered Bridge (coveredbridges.net)