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Jefferson County, WV
About Jefferson County
Harpers Ferry
Harpers Ferry National Historical Park
Jefferson Rock
Shenandoah Canal
Shepherdstown
Entler Hotel
Rumsey Monument and Tobacco Warehouse
Morgan's Grove Park
Peter Burr House
Charles Town
Jefferson County Courthouse and Museum
Zion Episcopal Church
Happy Retreat
St. George's Chapel Ruins
Harewood
Cedar Lawn
Claymont Court/Blakeley
Middleway Historic District
Berkeley County, WV
About Berkeley County
Martinsburg
B&O Roundhouse & Station Complex
Belle Boyd House
Berkeley County Courthouse
Triple Brick Museum
General Adam Stephen House
Green Hill Cemetery
Van Metre Ford Bridge
Bunker Hill Mill
Morgan Chapel
Morgan Cabin
Gerrardstown Historic District
Hays Gerrard House
Mill's Gap
Sleep Creek Wildlife Management Area
Hedgesville Historic District
Mt. Zion Episcopal Church
Snodgrass Tavern
Morgan County, WV
About Morgan County
Spruce Pine Hollow Park
Berkeley Springs
Dutch Cemetery
Throgmorton's Inn
Bath Historic District
Berkeley Springs State Park
George Washington's Bathtub
Roman Bath House & Museum of the Berkeley Springs
Washington's Lots
Sir John's Run
Panorama Overlook
Great Cacapon
Camp Hill Cemetery
Paw Paw
Paw Paw Tunnel
Coolfont Manor House
Cacapon State Park

Washington Heritage Trail

 

VAN METRE
FORD BRIDGE


Still in use today, this graceful native limestone triple-arched bridge was built across Opequon Creek in 1832 and is considered to be the oldest operational bridge in West Virginia.

John Van Metre acquired 800 acres on the east side of Opequon Creek in 1734. The Berkeley County Court commissioned Silas Harry, a Pennsylvania man who built bridges in Maryland, to construct a stone bridge across the Opequon at the old Warm Springs Road near the Van Metre property. This road began in Alexandria, Virginia, and extended over old Indian paths and wagon worn trails to the Warm Springs in Bath (now Berkeley Springs). The bridge played a significant part in the development of local transportation and helped spur commerce and communication by making the crossing of Opequon Creek easier and less expensive.

Nearby is the Henry Van Metre cemetery. Henry Van Metre built a large native limestone house near the bridge which was destroyed by fire in 1905.

Efforts at preservation have led to plans for construction of a new bridge for traffic with the historic bridge to remain as a monument. Van Metre Ford Bridge is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Location:
WV36 (Golf Course Road) – 2.1 miles east of Martinsburg

 



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