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Rudolph and Arthur, Chester 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/38-15-01x
County: Chester County
Township: Elk - New London
Town/Village: North of Lewisville
Bridge Name: Rudolph and Arthur
Crosses: Big Elk Creek
Truss type: Burr
Spans: 1
Length: 99' overall, 82' span
Roadway Width: 16'-3"
Built: 1880
Builder: Menander Wood and Richard T. Meredith
When Lost: 01 Sep 2021
Cause: Flood
Latitude: N39 44.752
Longitude: W075 52.936
See a map of the area
Topographic map of the area
Directions: 2.0 miles northwest of jct with PA213/841 ( just north of the Maryland State Line) on PA472, then 0.8 miles right on Camp Bonsul Rd.

Rudolph & Arthur Bridge, Elk-New London, Chester County, PA. Built 1880, Swept Away September 1, 2021
Richard Donovan / Trish Kane Collection

Rudolph & Arthur Bridge, Elk-New London, Chester County, PA. Built 1880, Swept Away September 1, 2021
Bill Caswell Photo

Rudolph & Arthur Bridge, Elk-New London, Chester County, PA. Built 1880, Swept Away September 1, 2021
Jenn Caswell Photo, May 2, 2015

Rudolph & Arthur Bridge, Elk-New London, Chester County, PA. Built 1880, Swept Away September 1, 2021
Bill Caswell Photo, May 2, 2015

Comments:
Chester County #26. 10-panel truss. Repaired after the June 1884 and 1915 floods. "When the bridge was built in 1880, Charles Arthur was a member of the paper firm which operated under the name of Rudolph and Arthur. This firm used influence to have the County build a covered bridge here. Menander Wood built the woodwork at $1,440.00 and Richard T. Meredith had the contract for the stonework at $890.00. Incidentals brought the total cost to $2,334.00." (James) From the surface of the floor to the water is 13'. The bridge was swept away by flooding associated with tropical storm Ida on September 1, 2021 and rebuilt in 2025. A ribbon-cutting ceremony was scheduled for October 15, 2025.

Sources:
Evans, Benjamin D. & June R.. Pennsylvania's Covered Bridges, 2001, page 84
James, Arthur E.. Covered Bridges of Chester County, PA, 1976, pages 33-34
Travis, Dale. Pennsylvania Covered Bridges List, updated to 26 Aug 2004, http://www.dalejtravis.com/cblist/cbpa.htm (23 Sep 2004)
Moll, Fred J.. Pennsylvania's Covered Bridges - Our Heritage, 2004, pages 86-87
Kipphorn, Thomas. Information received by email, May 2007
National Society for the Preservation of Covered Bridges. World Guide to Covered Bridges, 2009, page 103

Compilation 2026 Covered Spans of Yesteryear

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