Walter's Mill Covered Bridge

About

Walter's Mill Covered Bridge, also called the Cox Creek bridge, stands on the grounds of the Somerset Historical Center north of Somerset, off PA 985. At its current site it crosses Haupt Run. The bridge is about 60 ft long and is open to pedestrians only.

History

The Somerset Historical Center dates the bridge to 1859. The National Register record gives 1830 and names Christian Ankeny as architect, and uncoveringpa.com notes both dates. The bridge originally crossed Coxes Creek about four miles south of Somerset. Laminated wood arches were added in 1909 to help it carry heavier vehicles. When development threatened it, the bridge was moved to the Historical Center in the early 1960s, and it was extensively restored in 1986. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on December 10, 1980.

Design

According to the Historical Center, the original structure is a multiple kingpost truss, a series of vertical posts with diagonal braces repeated across the span, and the arches were added later. The National Register record lists the bridge as a Burr arch truss. It has vertical plank siding and a tin-covered gable roof.

Visiting

The bridge is at the Somerset Historical Center, 10649 Somerset Pike, Somerset. Visitors can park in the center's lot and walk across the bridge, which is open to foot traffic only.

Sources: Covered Bridge (Somerset Historical Center), Walter's Mill Bridge (Wikipedia), Covered Bridges of Somerset County (Uncovering PA)

Photo: JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ MD, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.