Twin Bridges-East Paden Covered Bridge No. 120
Why it's listed
A covered wooden bridge in Forks, Columbia County, Pennsylvania, the East Paden span measures 75 feet long and follows a Queen Post truss design, with two diagonal braces on either side of an iron tension bar. Its outer roof is metal sheeting, its underside is flat planks, and its portals are plain vertical boards. A continuous window runs along each wall. New flooring has been laid lengthwise through the bridge, and a horizontal steel beam reinforces the deck. The original abutments were kept, apart from a concrete wall added to connect the two bridges. Peter Ent is named as builder. The bridge is significant for its engineering and its place in local transportation. Covered bridges of this kind carried traffic between growing towns and the saw and grist mills that depended on farm trade. Columbia County has built none in the last half century, which makes these structures distinctive for their design.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the bridge is significant for its engineering and its role in transportation. Covered bridges in Columbia County are described as having a unique design and engineering, since none have been built there in the last half century. Bridges of this type were needed to connect growing towns and the farming, saw and grist mill activities that depended on them.
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 79003180, listed November 29, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Off PA 478, Forks |
|---|---|
| County | Columbia County |
| Listed | November 29, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79003180 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Architect / builder | Peter Ent |
| Architectural style | Queen Post truss |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Engineering, Transportation |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Acreage | 0.1 |
| Coordinates | 41.10699, -76.35671 (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 79003180.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7858085
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.