Covered Bridge

The main thoroughfare through Markleville to Wila was over the covered bridge on to the original Creek Road and left onto Wila. In the 1950s Rt.849 was improved and a new bridge built on to Wila and Newport. In the year 2000 Juniata Township renamed the roads to their current names. The original Creek Rd became Campbell Road and Rt 849 became Creek Rd. in Juniata Township only. Once Creek Road enters Tuscarona Township it becomes "Buffalo Creek Trace Road".

"I remember the old covered bridge before they built the new bridge. In fact, some where my Mom has a picture of the two of us sitting on the guide fence as you enter the covered bridge. When they started building the new bridge (can't remember the year, in the 50s), I was there every day helping the workmen. I climbed all over that bridge all day long while they were building it and I helped them eat their lunch too. The creek was my playground and the picnic ground along the creek below the Walker house. Oscar Campbell & I used to walk to the one room school house on the other side of the creek."

"The old covered bridge was located about 1/4 mile west of the new bridge to the left (of course) just before you enter Oscar Campbell's private lane to his farm. If you look closely you can probably still see some evidence of it. I don't know the name of that road, but at that time it was the main road. From Alvin & Mary Fosselman's farm (Alvin's mom & dad owned it then) on the right side of the road traveling to the west, (I think it's west) there is an alley and now Doc (Alvin & Mary's son) & Gail Fosselman live in that house on the alley. There was a stone wall in front of the house. When I was a kid, Charlie Whitekettle, a widower, lived there. He was such a gentle old guy and always parted his hair in the middle. He always looked so neat. The next little house is the house in which I was born. It has a balcony across the front, which creates a roof for the porch below. At that time it was white frame and trimmed in green. I don't know what it is now. I used to sit on that balcony & play with my Lincoln logs - loved them! There were about 6 steps from the state road up to the porch.The next big house to the west is the old Walker house. It had a big front porch which wrapped around to the side also. Earl & Elnora Walker were like grandparents to me. When they died the house went to Jack Walker, their son. Earl was a well driller. " - Sandy Comp Feb. 2004