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Community Corner

Men Display Unusual Heroics at Eight-arch Bridge

Three local men do their bit to help preserve the historic Eight-Arch Bridge in Warwick.

On Sunday, July 10, three friends—Jim Kistner of Hatboro, Chris Heiser of Lansdale and Steve Pepper of Warrington—drove a retired US military vehicle down into the Neshaminy creek, and pulled out four large trees that had been wedged up against the pylons for years.

The 1985 M-35 A2 Cargo Truck, owned and driven by Kistner, roared and lurched under the weight and resistance of the 20 to 40-foot long trunks that had been water logged, making them much heavier than was expected. Pepper attached the straps and Heiser manned the chainsaw. The whole operation took just under two hours.  

The trees undoubtedly had been causing some erosion underneath the base of the bridge, as was pointed out by Pepper when he noticed the change in depth of the water at the pylon base.

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The bridge was once a part of Old York Road, in what was known as Bridge Valley until it was closed to traffic in 1965 when the highway was expanded. The bridge sits between Sugar Bottom Road and Bristol Road, and is presently owned by the Warwick Township Historical Society. This 1804 stone structure replaced the wooden bridge that General Washington marched his troops across during the Revolution in 1777.

Members of historical society have been cleaning up the brush on the bank surrounding the bridge since last fall, as well as removing the weeds that were growing along the top and sides of the enormous structure.

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Funds are hoped to be raised in coming months for neccesary repairs and preservation work. A marker will be placed there as well, noting it's place on the National Register Of Historic Places.

These men are to be applauded for volunteering their time and energy to help save this structure, with no payment other than the gratitude of Warwick Township Historical Society and the many local fishermen and hikers who treasure it for it's unusual beauty.

Bravo Men!

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