CFHS gets Scarborough painting

Posted by Rich Schwartzman on January 12, 2018

Mike Connolly, the executive director of the Chadds Ford Historical Society, accepts Twin Bridges, a painting by Paul Scarborough, from Jenny Fenton and The Friends of Twin Bridges.

The Chadds Ford Historical Society is now the proud owner of "Twin Bridges," a painting by the late Paul Scarborough. It was a gift from several members of the Friends of Twin Bridges.

Seven members of the group — Jenny and Wendell Fenton, Ford and Brian Draper, Bob and Lynn Luft and David Harrington — bought the painting from Barbara Moore Fine Art in December and held a brief ceremony at CFHS on Jan. 11.

"This is great," said Historical Society Executive Director Mike Connolly. "It reaffirms the value people place on historic resources…The painting echoes Chadds Ford's artistic tradition coupled with its history."

Barbara Moore, Scarborough's longtime friend and companion, said she appreciates the society accepting the painting.

"The painting reflects local history. It would make Paul happy to see it's there."

The painting came about because Jenny Fenton asked Scarborough to do the painting after area residents learned years ago that PennDOT plans to replace the bridge.

She said before the ceremony that the Historical Society "seems like the perfect place" for the painting. "It's in the vicinity of where the bridge is, and the society can take care of it."

Fenton also thanked Jon Snook, of the Brandywine Conservancy, for his help in working with designers to come up with a pleasing replacement span. There's no final decision on how the new bridge will look or when work will start.

A final report was expected in 2012, but there have been numerous delays. In October, PennDOT's Steven Fellin said the report should be ready soon.

The current bridge is more than 80 years old, is 482 feet long and 23 feet wide. It's called Twin Bridges because at one time there were two in-line covered bridges connected by an open span.

Until 2008, the bridge was considered unsightly but safe. Its status was later reclassified as structurally poor because of what is termed spalling, meaning the concrete is flaking off. There is also exposed rebar.

Some of The Friends of Twin Bridges, from left, are Bob Luft, Wendell Fenton, Ford Draper, Jenny Fenton Lynn Luft and David Harrington.

About Rich Schwartzman

Rich Schwartzman has been reporting on events in the greater Chadds Ford area since September 2001 when he became the founding editor of The Chadds Ford Post. In April 2009 he became managing editor of ChaddsFordLive. He is also an award-winning photographer.