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Lancaster
County, Pennsylvania
(WGN
38-36-04) (WGCB PA-36-04) (1846; restored
c. 1962; strengthened 1997) A single-span, Burr arch truss
98' 9" over Conestoga Creek. Located: On Cider Mill Road, north
of Farmersville, Pennsylvania, West Earl Township. Directions:
From the jct. of US 222 and SR 322, southwest of Ephrata, Pennsylvania,
go east on SR 322 for 0.9 mile to Cabin Road (TR 785). Turn right
(south) on Cabin Road (TR 785) to Conestoga Creek Road. Continue
straight on Conestoga Creek Road (do not turn right) for 0.4 mile to Cider
Mill Road. Turn left for 0.1 mile to the bridge. The
original cost of construction in 1846 was $1,115. This is reported
to be the oldest state owned covered bridge in Pennsylvania. It was
nearly replaced by a concrete slab bridge around 1962, however, protests
of local residents persuaded the state to restore the covered bridge instead.
In the early 1970s there were at least three attempts by arsonists
to destroy the bridge, in spite of a slogan carved in the Burr arch which
reads "ETERNITY! Where will you spend it? Your Choice. Heaven
or Hell.” The bridge was closed in the mid 1990s and reopened in
the summer of 1997 after a new metal strengthening rod was installed.
The bridge is covered with vertical board and batten siding on the sides
and the portals, and has a sheet metal roof. The bridge is also known
as the Fiand’s Mill Covered Bridge, the Eberly’s Cider Mill Covered,
the Blitzer's Mill Covered Bridge Bridge and the Martin’s Mill
Covered Bridge. It was listed on the National Register of Historic
Places on December 10, 1980. (Oct 2004) |
