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Speakman #2 or Mary Ann Pyle, Chester County

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

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Inventory Number: PA/38-15-06
County: Chester County
Township: East Fallowfield
Town/Village: East of Doe Run
Bridge Name: Speakman #2 or Mary Ann Pyle
Crosses: Buck Run
Truss type: Queen variation
Spans: 1
Length: 84'
Roadway Width: 15'
Built: 1881
Builder: Menander & Ferdinand Wood
When Lost: standing
Cause:
Latitude: N39 55.308
Longitude: W075 48.000
See a map of the area
Topographic map of the area
Directions: 1.1 miles southeast of jct PA841 on PA82, then 230 feet left on Apple Grove Rd., then 0.3 miles left on McCorkles Rock Rd. Walk 0.8 miles. Membership in Brandywine Conservancy required for visit.

Speakman #2 or Mary Ann Pyle Bridge, East Fallowfield, Chester County, PA. Built 1881
Bob Sheldon Photo, September 3, 2008

Speakman #2 or Mary Ann Pyle Bridge, East Fallowfield, Chester County, PA. Built 1881
Jackson Betz Photo, March 2004

Speakman #2 or Mary Ann Pyle Bridge, East Fallowfield, Chester County, PA. Built 1881
Jackson Betz Photo, July 2014

Speakman #2 or Mary Ann Pyle Bridge, East Fallowfield, Chester County, PA. Built 1881
Bill Caswell Photo, May 2, 2015

Comments:
Chester County #73. According to Covered Bridges of Chester County, Pennsylvania by Arthur E. James, there were two covered bridges built at the site of the present bridge that were washed away, the latter on June 26, 1884, so the 1881 building date for the present structure is likely in error. The bridge was built by Ferdinand Wood for $1,183.00 and his brother, Menander, did the stonework for $755.00. Mary Ann Pyle was the daughter of James B. Pyle, owner of the land in the Buck Run Valley, west of the confluence of Buck and Doe Runs. It is located only 750' northwest of another covered bridge, Hayes Clark (PA/38-15-07 #2), which spans Doe Run. The two twins are located just inside the East Fallowfield Township line on a now abandoned stretch of road called McCorkle's or McCorkle's Rock Road. On the 1941 Type 10 map, the section of road that ran from Route 82 to an abandoned crossroad directly south of Hayes Clark Bridge was T371. From there it changed to T373, so technically, both bridges were on T373. Beginning in 1916, Robert J. Kleberg Jr. became heavily involved in ranching as president of King Ranch, Inc. in Texas and Buck and Doe Run Valley Farms at Coatesville, PA. The bridges became private about this time. Most of this farm is now under easment to the Brandywine Conservancy. The two bridges are locked up behind gates and permission should be granted to visit them.

Sources:
Evans, Benjamin D. & June R.. Pennsylvania's Covered Bridges, 2001, page 87
James, Arthur E.. Covered Bridges of Chester County, PA, 1976, page 72
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 84-85
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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