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Sheeder - Hall, Chester County

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Inventory Number: PA/38-15-12
County: Chester County
Township: East Vincent - West Vincent
Town/Village:
Bridge Name: Sheeder - Hall
Crosses: French Creek
Truss type: Burr (Double Arch)
Spans: 1
Length: 100' span
Roadway Width: 15'
Built: 1850
Builder: Robert Russell & Jacob Fox
When Lost: standing
Cause:
Latitude: N40 08.863
Longitude: W075 37.238
See a map of the area
Topographic map of the area
Directions: 0.6 miles south of jct PA23 on PA100, then 2.7 miles left on Pughtown Rd. and 0.3 miles right on Hollow Rd. 0.3 miles southwest of Hiestand.

Sheeder's or Hall's Bridge, East Vincent-West Vincent, Chester County, PA. Built 1850
Bill Caswell Photo, April 21, 2012

Sheeder or Hall's or Chester County 194 Bridge, East Vincent-West Vincent, PA Built 1850
© Lisa Plamondon

Comments:
Chester County #194. 10-panel truss. One source has an overall length of 120', while another says 116'. Currently, it is commonly referred to as the Sheeder-Hall Bridge while in the past it was known as either Sheeder Bridge or Hall's Bridge. According to its National Register application, it was built by Robert Russell and Jacob Fox in 1850 for $1,564. It is the oldest covered bridge in Chester County. It derives a part of this name from Henry Sheeder, who came from Germany to establish a steel forge nearby on the banks of French Creek. In 1962, vandals attempted to burn the bridge. In the same year, the State Highway Department decided to demolish the bridge because it was inadequate for modem traffic loads and because repair appeared to be unfeasible. It was later decided to reinforce the bridge with concrete and steel, while preserving the original appearance as much as possible. In 1965, steel stringers replaced the existing flooring system, a new wood deck was installed, and a concrete pier was added at midspan.

Sources:
Evans, Benjamin D. & June R.. Pennsylvania's Covered Bridges, 2001, page 85
James, Arthur E.. Covered Bridges of Chester County, PA, 1976, page 106-107
The Pottstown Mercury, Thursday, October 25, 1962, page 10.
Moll, Fred J.. Pennsylvania's Covered Bridges - Our Heritage, 2004, pages 17, 88-89
Kipphorn, Thomas. Information received by email, May 2007
National Society for the Preservation of Covered Bridges. World Guide to Covered Bridges, 2021, page 105

Compilation 2026 Covered Spans of Yesteryear

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