Pleasantville Covered Bridge in Pennsylvania: Unique for Two Reasons

In this installment of ‘History Off the Beaten Path,’ a distinct design and a tollhouse distinguish one particular covered bridge from among the state’s 200.

This historic covered bridge has a triple-arch design unique among other covered bridges in the area. Deena Bouknight

In Pennsylvania, historic covered bridges are commonplace in rural farming areas. These mostly 19th-century wooden bridges were covered to protect them from inclement weather; they also became popular meeting spots for farmers. 

Discover Lancaster’s tourism website offers pertinent information for a self-guided driving tour of the over 30 covered bridges in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Additionally, Berks County, Pennsylvania has a downloadable map that includes its five preserved covered bridges, including one called Pleasantville, which is on a pastoral road appropriately named Covered Bridge. However, this bridge is different from other Pennsylvania bridges in its design and the fact that a toll was once required to cross it.