Speakman No. 2, Mary Ann Pyle Bridge
Why it's listed
Built in 1881 over Buck Run in East Fallowfield Township, Chester County, this covered bridge uses a queenpost truss, a timber framing system common among bridges of its era. Meanander and Ferdinand Wood are credited as its builders. The structure is 75 feet long and 15 feet wide. Its cost is recorded as $1,183 for woodwork and $755 for stonework. It is one of two nearby covered bridges, the other being the Hayes-Clark Bridge about a quarter mile away, that are regarded as twin bridges. The bridge takes its name from the daughter of James B. Pyle, a local landowner. It is a good example of the covered bridge type that was once widespread in Chester County. Both bridges sit on private land and are closed to traffic. The bridge is part of the Covered Bridges of Chester County multiple property group, which was listed together.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the bridge is one of the surviving covered bridges of Chester County that represent a construction type common in the mid-to-late 19th century. It is described as one of a pair of twin bridges with the Hayes-Clark Bridge, about a quarter mile away. It was named for the daughter of a local landowner, James B. Pyle.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 80003465, listed December 10, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | S of Coatesville on T 371, East Fallowfield Township, Modena |
|---|---|
| County | Chester County |
| Listed | December 10, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80003465 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Architect / builder | Meanander and Ferdinand Wood (builders) |
| Areas of significance | Engineering, Transportation |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition recorded as good; closed to traffic because it is on private land. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 39.92196, -75.79993 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 80003465.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7574356
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.