COVERED BRIDGE KEEPERS HOUSE (c1830):
Family History:
At this time, I have found little if any reference to
the people who lived in this structure. I am starting
to believe that this structure was built in connection
with the bridge in the 1830s. I have found no reference
anywhere to the structure prior to references related
to the covered bridge. Mention of it does not appear
in tax records nor does it appear on early maps. The
last custodian of the bridge, a Mrs. Garber, died in
the house when she fell down the stairs a broke her
neck in 1957.
Previously, it was believed that a grandson of Mounce
Jones built the structure. However, due to relentless
research, no member of the Jones family lived on this
property after Andrew Jones, son of Mounce. Also, the
only possible use this building could have had prior
to the 1830s was as the “Lamb’s Inn”
established that was run on the property in the early
1700s. (This had been discussed in the Mounce Jones
house section) However, that would certainly have predated
1780. Starting in the 1760s, George Douglass owned the
property. The possibility then arises that this was
where the Douglass store was operated. But, again, no
hard evidence has been found to support this theory
either. Perhaps we will never know who built the building
or why.
Social History:
The ford, which was located slightly upriver from this
location, was used until 1832 when the bridge was erected.
Across the river and half a mile down from here was
Thomas Millard’s grist mill. In operation by 1713,
it was the only one that serviced the Oley Valley region
for several years. Since a grist mill was located so
close to the ford, the area was a popular crossing spot.
Eventually, the property became the home of the custodian
and toll-keeper of the double lane Douglassville covered-bridge
which crossed the Schuylkill River at this location.
It was the job of the custodian to light and hang lanterns
on each end of the bridge and, in winter, to shovel
snow into the structure so that the sleighs could run
more smoothly. The caretaker was paid by the county
and was also required to sweep out the interior each
night.
Prior to an explanation of the Douglassville Covered
Bride, it is important to understand how the bridges
were put together. Bridges were covered to protect their
wooden members or supporting beams. Once covered, the
interior supporting beams were protected from the elements
and this theoretically extended the life of the bridge.
The strength of the bridge depended on the wood being
seasoned except for the arch which could be slightly
green. Only heart wood was used for supporting timbers.
The quality of workmanship was as important as the quality
of the wood. All the individual pieces and members of
the bridge including the side boards would be cut and
fitted in a nearby field prior to being inserted into
the structure itself.
The construction of the bridge was taken on by the
Douglassville Covered Bridge Company of which George
Douglass, Jr. was a commissioner. The Douglassville
Covered Bridge Company was a stock holding enterprise.
The Douglassville Bridge was one of twelve covered toll
bridges in Berks County. This bridge was a private enterprise
and was not run by the county. The bridge was 340 feet
long, 24 feet wide, had two lanes, and had two spans
meaning there was a support pier midway across the river.
The road from this bridge led onto the King’s
Highway. The King’s Highway is modern-day Old
Philadelphia Pike. Also, the road that led to the bridge
(today’s lane to the Mounce Jones house) apparently
followed an eighteenth century property line.
On September 2, 1850, a flood damaged the bridge to
the point that it had to be rebuilt. This 1850 flood
washed away every bridge over the Schuylkill River from
Pottsville to Royersford when the river rose twenty-five
feet. When the Klapperthal Dam was breached, a canal
boat broke loose and floated down stream and eventually
rammed the northern span of the Douglassville Bridge,
carrying it away. The Douglassville Bridge Company contracted
Messrs’ McKently and Linderman to rebuild the
bridge. They bought what was remaining of the Lancaster
Bridge span at a cost of $1,600. In 1851, the bridge
was rebuilt using one span from the Lancaster Bridge
which had been washed down river to a meadow near Douglassville
in the same flood that ruined the Douglassville Bridge.
The Lancaster Bridge had been located at Bingaman Street
in Reading. The washed away portion of the Douglassville
Bridge was used to replace a span at Kenilworth in Montgomery
County. Scarcity and high prices of lumber was a burden
in repairing bridges. The Douglassville Bridge was the
second bridge to be rebuilt in the county after the
flood.
Then, on October 4, 1869, another flood washed out
the eastern half of the bridge. During this flood, the
Schuylkill River rose twenty-three feet. The first toll
house stood on the Douglassville side of the bridge,
but this was later replaced by one on the Union Township
side. In a May 8, 1869 article from the Berks and Schuylkill
Journal was found the following:
“Auctioneer Lyon sold last
Tuesday afternoon at the commissioners office, Reading,
the stocks hold by the county in the several bridge
companies within its limits. The stock was sold in
lots of 5 shares each, and was purchased by different
individuals at the following rates…55 shares
of Douglassville Bridge stock at from $20.00 to $25.00
per share.”
A May 17, 1876 Reading Eagle article had the following
information: “A Union Township father filed suit
against the bridge company for trying to charge a one
cent toll for his children on their way to and from
school.” Another Reading Eagle article from October
19, 1876 stated that local citizens were petitioning
to make the bridge free from tolls. People could pay
their toll when they crossed or pay a set price for
the entire year. Each individual bridge company determined
its own prices. Typical tolls for the period were:
1 cent/foot passenger, 6 cents/20
sheep, 10 cents/20 swine, 20 cents/20 cattle, 4 cents/horse
or mule, 6 cents/horse with rider,12 1⁄2 cents/sulky
and horse, 25 cents/carriage with 2 horses, 37 1⁄2
cents/carriage with 4 horses, 20 cents/stage coach
with 2 horses, 30 cents/stage coach with 4 horses,
6 cents/sleigh and each horse, 5 cents/draft sleigh
and horse, and 6 cents/wagon or cart and horse.
The bridge was bought from the Douglassville Bridge
Company in 1885 by the county for $9,000. In 1886, the
bridge was made free of tolls.
In 1902, yet another flood damaged the bridge. During
this flood, the river rose 24’ 6”. Then,
in 1909, the original pier was taken down and replaced
by a new one at a cost of $4,100. In 1930, the bridge
began to sag and lean downstream, so it was closed to
vehicular traffic but remained open to pedestrians.
A March 1, 1946 Reading Eagle article announced that
the bridge would be replaced by a concrete span. Cables
were attached from the bridge to posts and trees to
help strengthen the bridge and keep it from collapsing.
The new steel and concrete bridge cost $400,000 to construct.
The covered bridge was last used in 1951 and was torn
down in the same year. Prior to being razed, the Douglassville
Covered Bridge was the last wooden bridge spanning the
Schuylkill River.
By 1977, the house itself was being used to house meetings.
Architectural History:
Located adjacent to the Mounce Jones house, it is a
one and a half story sandstone structure with a single
interior end chimney. It is a one-room building with
a relatively large open attic space. Apparently, the
house contained four rooms at some point though. Unlike
the Mounce Jones house, this property still has a full
basement. When the Schurr family donated this property
it was apparently fairly dilapidated as well. In 1967,
the roof collapsed.
Property History:
Originally part of the property which Mounce Jones had,
the land eventually passed to George Douglass and George
Douglass, Jr. The house has been vacant since 1957.
The Schurr family acquired the house and one acre and
sixteen perches from the George Douglass estate. The
Historic Preservation Trust of Berks County acquired
the property in 1965 at the same time that the Mounce
Jones house was acquired.
|
