The Packsaddle Bridge, Somerset County

Scenic and romantic, covered bridges provide a link to a nearly forgotten past. A drive over a covered bridge can take a person back in time. At one point in time, Pennsylvania had at least 1,500 covered bridges. Today, more covered bridges exist in the state (approximately 221) than in any other, earning Pennsylvania the title of “Covered Bridge Capital of the World.”

In fact, the first American covered bridge was built by Timothy Palmer to cross the Schuykill River in Philadelphia in 1800. The story goes that the investors asked Mr. Palmer to cover the bridge to extend its life by protecting the side supporting timbers from exposure to the weather. An alternate view held that covering bridges would scare off evil spirits.

The covered bridge pictured today is in Somerset County and is know as The Packsaddle Bridge or Doc Miller Bridge. Built in 1870 and restored in 1997, it is located on Fairhope Road (TR 407), northwest of Fairhope.

Today's photo was taken by WPC's Rita Hawrot.

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