Perrine's Covered Bridge, Rosendale New York
Built in 1844, Perrine's Bridge is one of the oldest covered wooden bridges still standing in New York State and the only true example of the Burr Arch type. It has served horse and buggy, automobile, and pedestrian traffic from the date of its construction to the present. The scenic beauty of the bridge has long been admired by artists and tourists from many areas.
The Burr Arch was patented in 1817 by Theodore Burr (1771-1822). One of the early settlers of Oxford, New York, Burr was a millwright with a flair for heavy construction, and bridge-building became his life work. He is noted as one of the first and most prominent master bridge builders in the United States.
The architectural value of Perrine's Bridge lies in its unique arch type construction. Although when first constructed it was considered a folly and was predicted to have a life span of twelve years, the bridge certainly outlived all expectations, and the Burr Arch as well has served as the format for many modern spans. The design has been used by engineers throughout the world.
The landscape value of the bridge is priceless due to the beauty of the surrounding terrain and its location adjacent to the New York State Thruway. The progress of bridge engineering is graphically illustrated by the side-by-side structures that were constructed 100 years apart.
It served as a major communications and transportation link between the towns of Rosendale and Esopus until 1932 when new Route 32 was opened. Repaired in 1969, it continues to function today as a footpath leading to a picnic and recreational facility.
Bridge Description
In a scenic, rural setting, the covered wooden Perrine's Bridge joins the towns of Rosendale and Esopus. Located near both a New York State Thruway overpass and a nearby State Route 32 steel bridge, Perrine's Bridge, as part of the collection of three bridges, is a graphic illustration of the progress made in bridge construction over the past century.
Dating from 1844, Perrine's Bridge is an example of the Burr Arch type, patented by Theodore Burr in 1817. The bridge has a wood frame with a single span of 138 feet in length. Its structural system consists of two parts: 1) parallel top and bottom chords with connecting diagonals and 2) two timber arch ribs, one on each side of the roadway, inside the truss plane. The use of this system allows the bridge to have strength and stability as the total load is distributed between the truss and the arches.
The main supporting beams and 14" x 7" arches are constructed of oak and chestnut with chestnut and hemlock used for the floor and side planks. The roof is shingled with cypress. The bridge abutments are built of bluestone which was quarried near Kingston and these are cemented firmly by Rosendale cement. The bridge arches are anchored to the abutments.
The outside width of the bridge is twenty feet and the inside width is sixteen and one-half. There is a twelve-foot clearance.
Repaired in 1969, Perrine's Bridge now serves as a footpath to a public and recreational facility.
(1973)
