Pleasantville Bridge

Pleasantville Bridge is a wooden covered bridge spanning Manatawny Creek with a length of about 126 feet, using a Burr Truss design that combines curved arches with straight beams. The roof and wooden side walls protect the internal structure from weather exposure.

Construction occurred between 1852 and 1856 under the direction of David Renno and Jonathan Bitner. Wood shortages following an early 1850s flood forced the project to proceed in two separate phases.

The bridge shows how craftspeople once protected wooden structures from the elements while allowing wagons and early vehicles to cross safely. This building approach was standard practice for crossings in the area for many decades.

The bridge is most easily accessible in stable weather conditions and the roadway is relatively narrow, so vehicles need to travel slowly. Pedestrians and cyclists can also use the structure but should expect to encounter vehicle traffic.

Only five covered bridges remain in Berks County today, making this one of the last examples of a construction method once common throughout the region. Its recognition by the National Register of Historic Places in 1981 helped secure the structure's preservation for future visitors.