details

Documenting North America's past & present covered bridges

Home

Newport, Perry 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/38-50-41x
County: Perry County
Township: Howe - Oliver
Town/Village:
Bridge Name: Newport
Crosses: Juniata River
Truss type: Burr
Spans: 4
Length:
Roadway Width:
Built:
Builder:
When Lost: 01 Jun 1889
Cause: Flood
Latitude: N40 28.74
Longitude: W077 07.68
See a map of the area
Topographic map of the area
Directions: On Route 34 which is Red Hill Road (SR0034, formerly LR50002) in Howe Twp. and Market Street in Oliver Township.

Newport Bridge, Howe-Oliver, Perry County, PA Flood 1 Jun 1889
Todd Clark Collection

Comments:
It was washed away on June 1, 1889 and replaced by the present four-span wrought iron pony truss bridge on the original abutments and piers. Per The Perry County Democrat (Bloomfield), June 5, 1889, In describing flood damage from 1-Jun-1889, "The river was covered with floating debris, and several bridges came down with the flood, among them the Millerstown bridge. The county bridge across the river at Newport withstood several tremendous shocks, but finally gave way with a crash and was gone. When the Millerstown dam broke the rush of the waters was terrific."

Sources:
The Perry County Democrat (Bloomfield), June 5, 1889.
Moll, Fred J.. Pennsylvania's Covered Bridges - Our Heritage, 2004, pages 120-121
Kipphorn, Thomas. Information received by email, August 2006