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Wertz's or Red, Berks County

If you find errors in the data please contact Bill Caswell.

If you would like to provide information on covered bridges that no longer exist from your state, or adopt a state to work on, we would certainly welcome your assistance. Please contact Trish Kane for more information.

Inventory Number: PA/38-06-06
County: Berks County
Township: Bern - Spring
Town/Village:
Bridge Name: Wertz's or Red
Crosses: Tulpehocken Creek
Truss type: Burr
Spans: 1
Length: 217'-10" overall, 200'-9" span
Roadway Width: 15'
Built: 1867
Builder: Amandas Knerr
When Lost: standing
Cause:
Latitude: N40 22.142
Longitude: W075 58.744
See a map of the area
Topographic map of the area
Directions: 0.4 miles northeast of US222 on Broadcasting Rd., then 0.4 miles left on Tulpehocken Rd. to park entrance on right. Walk 700 feet along trail to the bridge. Southeast of Leinbachs.

Wertz's or Red Bridge, Bern-Spring, Berks County, PA. Built 1867
Todd Clark Collection

Wertz's or Red Bridge, Bern-Spring, Berks County, PA. Built 1867
Richard Donovan / Trish Kane Collection

Wertz's or Red Bridge, Bern-Spring, Berks County, PA. Built 1867
Jim Smedley Photo, April 2019

Wertz's or Red Bridge, Bern-Spring, Berks County, PA. Built 1867
Bill & Jenn Caswell Photo, September 28, 2020

Wertz's or Red Bridge, Bern-Spring, Berks County, PA Built 1867
Earll Richard Stone Photo

Wertz's or Red Bridge, Bern-Spring, Berks County, PA Built 1867
1950's Era Photo, Fred Moll Collection

Comments:
Closed. 20-panel truss. The bridge was named after Wertz's Mill located 0.3 miles downstream. It is the longest remaining single span in Pennsylvania. The arches are very wide with an extra arch fastened on each inner arch for added support. Loss of the Bushong Bridge 2 miles downstream in March 1959 caused an increase in traffic at Wertz's. On April 10, 1959, the County Commissioners closed the bridge for strengthening and repairs. It reopened on August 3rd with a policeman during rush hours to only allow 2 vehicles at a time on the bridge. It was closed for good on October 23, 1959. Traffic was redirected to the Van Reed Bridge one mile upstream. The County Commissioners considered dismantling the bridge in 1960. On November 17, 1978, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Structures. In 1984 it was restored.

Sources:
Evans, Benjamin D. & June R.. Pennsylvania's Covered Bridges, 2001, page 48
Moll, Fred J.. Covered Bridges of Berks County, 2001, page 61
Moll, Fred J.. Pennsylvania's Covered Bridges - Our Heritage, 2004, pages 10, 78-79
Kipphorn, Thomas. Information received by email, May 2008
National Society for the Preservation of Covered Bridges. World Guide to Covered Bridges, 2021, page 101

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If the intended use is beyond these purposes, it is the responsibility of the user to obtain the appropriate permissions from the owner stated in the image's credits.