Newtown Township in Bucks County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Bridging Past and Present
Photographed by Richard Peterson, September 7, 2026
1. Bridging Past and Present Marker
“We crossed this river by a wooden bridge, roofed and covered in on all sides, and nearly a mile in length. It was profoundly dark; perplexed, with great beams, crossing and recrossing it at every possible angle; and through the broad chinks and crevices in the floor, the rapid river gleamed, far down below, like a legion of eyes ....”Charles Dickens, American Notes, 1842, describing crossing the Susquehanna River at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, by covered bridge.
Once known as “kissing bridges” because young couples used the shaded passages to steal a kiss, covered bridges connect present-day Pennsylvania with its rich past. The country’s first covered bridge was built in Philadelphia in 1805, designed with a roof to protect it from weather. During the height of the covered-bridge era, 1830-1875, an estimated 1500 covered bridges spanned Pennsylvania waterways. Today, Pennsylvania retains more covered bridges than any other state.
A Tour Through History
The Delaware River watershed had the most, and some of the finest, covered bridges of any river system in Pennsylvania. Bucks County still boasts thirteen covered bridges,
this page online
Photo captions:
• Fishing at the Schofield Ford Bridge. Since the mid-1950s covered-bridge preservation [illegible] up on the local, state and national level [?]. The Bucks County Covered Bridge Society played a leading role in rebuilding the Schofield Ford Bridge in Tyler State Park.
• The roofless Boxed Pony Bridge at Ralph Stover State Park is the only one of its kind in Pennsylvania.
• Built in 1805, the Permanent Bridge in Philadelphia was the first covered bridge in the United States.
• Sledge hammer used in post and beam construction.
• The Schofield Ford Bridge is the southernmost bridge on the Bucks County Covered Bridge Tour.
Erected by Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Bridges & Viaducts. In addition, it is included in the Covered Bridges series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1805.
Location. 40° 14.667′ N, 74° 58.817′ W. Marker is
Photographed by Richard Peterson, September 7, 2026
2. Marker (at right) in front of Schofield Ford Covered Bridge
Regionally, this marker is in Southeast Pennsylvania and in Greater Philadelphia. It is also in the American Northeast and in the Mid-Atlantic. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy, New Netherland, and one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Schofield Ford Covered Bridge (here, next to this marker); Community-built Landmark (here, next to this marker); A Bridge from Past to Present, Neighbor to Neighbor ... (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); From Public Highway to Scenic Byway ... (about 300 feet away);
Photographed by Richard Peterson, July 18, 2005
3. Schofield Ford Covered Bridge
Photographed by Richard Peterson, September 7, 2026
4. Bridging Past and Present Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on September 16, 2026. It was originally submitted on September 12, 2026, by Richard Peterson of East Windsor, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 8 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on September 12, 2026, by Richard Peterson of East Windsor, New Jersey. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
