The Hayes Clark Covered Bridge is often described as a twin of the nearby Mary Ann Pyle Covered Bridge, sharing a similar design, history, and connection to the rural landscape of Chester County, Pennsylvania.
During the nineteenth century, Hayes Clark owned approximately 208 acres spanning East Fallowfield and West Marlborough Townships. In late 1884, Chester County constructed a covered bridge over Doe Run on Clark’s property. The original bridge featured a Burr arch-truss design, with a 75-foot span and a 16-foot-wide roadway.
By the 1960s, the roadway through the bridge had been abandoned, and the structure had become part of the privately owned Buck and Doe Run Valley Farms. In 1963, the historic bridge was destroyed by arson.
In 1971, Buck and Doe Run Valley Farms rebuilt the bridge at the original site, but this time using a Kingpost truss design rather than the original Burr arch construction. While the replacement bridge no longer represents the original structure architecturally, it preserves the historic location and continues the legacy of the Hayes Clark Bridge.
Today, the Hayes Clark Bridge is part of the 771-acre Laurels Preserve, managed by the Brandywine Conservancy. The preserve and bridge are accessible to Conservancy members via a walking trail, offering visitors an opportunity to experience the bridge within the beautiful natural setting of the Doe Run Valley.
The Hayes Clark Bridge and nearby Mary Ann Pyle Bridge provide a fascinating glimpse into the history of Chester County’s covered bridges and the changing approaches to preserving these historic landscapes.
