Van Tran Flat Bridge

Van Tran Flat Bridge, also known as the Motts Flats Bridge and the Livingston Manor Covered Bridge, is a wooden covered bridge that crosses Willowemoc Creek in the town of Rockland, in Sullivan County, New York. The bridge was built in 1860 by John Davidson and features a Town lattice truss and a laminated arch system. The bridge was abandoned in 1972 and restored in 1984. The bridge is 103 feet long and leads to Livingston Manor Covered Bridge County Park.

Van Tran Flat Bridge or Livingston Manor Covered Bridge
Coordinates41°54′52″N 74°49′53″W
CrossesWillowemoc Creek
History
Construction end1860
Location

History

The Van Tran Flat Bridge (originally named The Motts Flats Bridge[1] and later referred to as The Livingston Manor Covered Bridge[2]) was first constructed in 1860 by John Davidson to cross the Willowemoc Creek located in the town of Rockland, in Sullivan County, New York. The original bridge was 117 feet (36 m) and featured a town lattice truss. The bridge was constructed from timber and followed a similar design to other bridges in the Catskill region. The Van Tran Flat Bridge was constructed 5 years before the Beaverkill Covered Bridge, also built by John Davidson; thus making The Van Tran Flat Bridge the oldest of the 4 covered bridge in Sullivan County.[3]

Sometime after 1958, the original dry-laid stone abutments were refaced with concrete. In 1972, the bridge was closed and formally abandoned. In 1984, the Sullivan County’s Department of Public Works alongside Milton S. Graton began restoring the bridge. The restoration project involved the use of original construction techniques and required replacing the truss, chords, floor, roof, and treenails. Furthermore, the original Queenpost truss was removed, additional laminated arches were added for support, and the total length of the bridge was reduced to 103 feet (31 m). In November 1985, the bridge was reopened.[3][2]

Associated Locations

John Mott Homestead

Located on the road adjacent to the bridge is the original homestead of Dr. John Mott, Noble Peace Prize laureate and a founding member of the YMCA.[4] The original name 'The Motts Flats Bridge' came from its association with the Mott family who owned the surrounding land.[5]

Livingston Manor Covered Bridge County Park

Adjacent to the Van Tran Flat Bridge is The Livingston Manor Covered Bridge Park, a park named after the bridge.[6]

See also

References
  1. "Livingston Manor Van Tran Flat | New York State Covered Bridge Society". Retrieved 2022-08-20.
  2. "Livingston Manor Covered Bridge Park | Sullivan County NY". sullivanny.us. Retrieved 2022-08-20.
  3. "Van Tran Flat | New York State Covered Bridge Society". Retrieved 2022-09-01.
  4. "Livingston Manor Covered Bridge Historical Marker". www.hmdb.org. Retrieved 2022-09-02.
  5. "Catskills, Then and Now: Livingston Manor Covered Bridge". Matthew Jarnich Photography: The Catskills and Beyond. Retrieved 2022-09-02.
  6. Badolato, Fina. "9 covered bridges in Ulster, Sullivan counties to check out this fall". Times Herald-Record. Retrieved 2022-09-02.
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