New Jersey doesn't have many covered bridges, just two as far as we know, but the beautiful Green Sergeant's Covered Bridge is the longest. It comes in at 84 feet and has a fascinating history.
You can find Green Sergeant's Covered Bridge along Rosemont Ringoes Road in Stockton.
The bridge crosses Wickecheoke Creek and its name is pronounced sir-gent, after local mill operator Richard Green Sergeant.
The bridge was built in 1872 and designed for horses to cross. It was not made for cars, which led to the bridge being disassembled in 1960.
Due to a massive public outcry, the bridge was reassembled using original materials in 1961.
The bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. It is considered historic not due to its age but due to its authentic truss construction.
The bridge itself is just a single lane, so a second adjacent bridge was built to accommodate cars driving in both directions.
One interesting story about the bridge is that it was a common place for inebriated passengers to rest in their horse-drawn carriages. Today, driving while intoxicated is not allowed. Driving under the influence has been illegal in New Jersey since 1906.
Covered bridges were once popular in the Garden State, even crossing the Delaware River in Trenton and Lambertville. Today, Hunterdon County's Green Sergeant's Covered Bridge is considered the last authentic covered bridge in New Jersey by the National Register of Historic Places. However, you can find a second covered bridge! The Scarborough Bridge was completed in 1959 and crosses the Cooper River in Cherry Hill. It may be more modern but it's still a treat! Visitors can drive, walk, or bike across. This bridge in the Barclay Farm neighborhood is 55 feet long.
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