ENCOUNTER 2005 Newsletter

February Edition

Chester County Bridge Tours

Page 3

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The loop continues through Unionville, another antique haven with an ice cream shop, 200-yr old stone homes, and of course, saddle & blacksmith shops. 

Leaving Unionville on West Doe Run Road (Rt. 82) travels through “hunt country” with steeple chases, foxhound runs & cattle farms sprinkled between stables and quaint bridges on Hilltop View Road, Church Rd (Ary Ann Pyle covered bridge – 1881), Covered Bridge /Frog Hollow Rds (Speakman’s bridge – 1881). 

Frog Hollow Road north intersects Strasburg Rd.  Heading east brings you to an impressive stone bridge & railroad crossing in Mortonville. Strasburg Road continues into Marshalton, completing the southern route. Marshalton is approximately a half-hour south of VFNHP.

There are a couple of stand-out covered bridges  further south of this loop in the vicinity of  some of the wineries under consideration. Bartram’s Bridge has been set beside Goshen Road in Williston township. It provides a beautiful photo-op, but only one car at a time can be accommodated.

Nearby St David’s Road winds past historic Harrisson House (circa 1700) with an attractive footbridge behind.

  A few minutes from the intersection of Rts. 1 & 202 you’ll find the Smith covered bridge.

Several nearby farms are constructed from serpentine stone, a unique green-hued limestone found exclusively in  the Brandywine Creek valley.  Its color becomes brilliant when struck by sunshine after a rainstorm.

 A word of caution:  be sure your car’s parking brake’s in tip-top performing condition before jumping out to go fishing, picnic, or take a photo. The water’s pristine, but this ain’t a good way to bring home the message…

  If you fall in love with the area’s life-style, ambiance, and are looking for something to do during retirement, local realtors can show you several properties needing TLC (but with character & ‘potential’) like this one:

The locals would be more than willing to offer sound restoration advice and even lend a helping hand from time to time.

 Not everyone in the area plays polo and hunts foxes with hounds- never know what four-wheeled classics may be harbored behind those mighty walls of stone and hand-hewn timber…  

Check out the Valve Cover Race news before leaving our website, and think about taking a full week’s vacation the week of August 8!  Encounter runs from the 10^th through the 14^th.

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