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Lancaster
County, Pennsylvania
(WGN
38-36-05) (WGCB PA-36-05) (1867;
repaired c. 1972) A single-span Burr arch truss 135' 7"
over Conestoga Creek. Located: On Bridge Road (TR 620), northeast
of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, between Manheim and Upper Leacock Townships,
Pennsylvania. Directions: From the jct. SR 23, northeast of
Lancaster, Pennsylvania, with Snake Hill Road (SR 1022/TR 620), go north
on Snake Hill Road (SR 1022/TR 620) for 1.3 miles to Mondale Road (TR 757).
Turn left for 0.2 mile to Bridge Road (TR 620); turn right on Bridge Road
(TR 620) for 0.6 mile to the bridge. The Hurricane Agnes flood of
1972 also made this bridge one of its victims. The flood carried
the bridge over one and one half mile before it stopped almost unharmed
on a road. The amazing phenomena is that before the bridge finally
stopped, it floated around another covered bridge, the Hunsecker Mill
Covered Bridge (WGN 38-36-06). This
bridge, which originally cost $4,500 to build (making it the most expensive
bridge in the area during the nineteenth century), was rebuilt at a cost
of $40,000. Most of the repair and replacement work was done by Amish
carpenters who worked diligently until the job was completed. The
bridge was one of the highest above water level at seventeen feet, however,
when it was rebuilt it was raised several feet higher. The bridge
is covered with vertical board and batten siding, it has a shake roof and
rests on stone and mortar abutments. There are long curving stone
and mortar wing walls and parapets. Also known as the
Nolt’s
Point Mill Covered Bridge, the Big Conestoga 6 Covered Bridge,
and the Bushong’s Mill Covered Bridge. It was listed on the
National Register of Historic Places on December 11, 1980. (Oct 2004) |
