Covered bridges

[Gadget]

Here on the east coast we don't have any desert to explore or many ghost towns, historic trails and concrete arrows to search for, but there is a lot of history here and by chance I happened upon a book of Pennsylvania's covered bridges which looked interesting so I got it. I poked around the Internet a little and found that there are a couple dozen not too far from my house so on Saturday the wife and I hopped the jeep and went in search of a few of them. Here are some of the ones we found. This one is Hunsecker's mill, originally built in 1843 at a cost of $1988, it was swept away several times by flooding, the last time in 1972 by Hurricane Agnes. Rebuilt in 1973 at a cost of $321,302, at 180 ft it's the longest single span covered bridge in the county.

This one is the Pinetown covered bridge, 124 feet long, built in 1867 at a cost of $4500, it was also destroyed in 1972 by flooding from Hurricane Agnes. Nearby Amish rebuilt it in 1973 and to prevent future flooding raised it over 17 feet above the average water line. The bridge was closed again after sustaining flood damage in 2011 from Tropical Storm Lee, it was repaired and reopened in Jan. 2014.

I've got several more that I will post up a little later, hope you enjoy this. Jeff

 

[wayoflife]

Awesome!! There are a few historic covered bridges in California and Cindy and I love seeing them too! Unfortunately, a lot of them are getting trashed and covered with graffiti. Glad to see the ones in your neck of the woods are still in great shape. Thanks for posting this up :thumb:

 

[JeepinLife]

Dang that's is awesome. I'm going to start looking for some around my state!! Grew up not to far from some and always loved them. We're also on an adventure to see all the waterfalls in NC. This will be a great addition!

 

[Gadget]

I've got 3 more from Saturday, I'm doing this on my iPad and my thumbs were getting tired. Arson seems to be a bigger threat than flooding or age.

 

[catahoula]

Does this count?

 

[catahoula]

Found these in Ioway!

 

[Gadget]

Absolutely counts and the others are very cool too. Did you go out and find those today or did you already have them?

 

[catahoula]

Absolutely counts and the others are very cool too. Did you go out and find those today or did you already have them?

LOL! Some pics from my travels.

 

[CedarRaider]

Does this count?

View attachment 159302

Love Switzerland. Hope to go back some day.

 

[Gadget]

Me too, my grandfather was from Switzerland.

 

[Gadget]

The final three from Saturday.

This one is the Zook's Mill Covered Bridge, built in 1849, it's 74 feet long and unlike some of the other bridges in this thread it withstood Hurricane Agnes even though it was filled with 6 1/2 feet of water. This bridge was featured in the 1978 film The Boys from Brazil. had to get one with the jeep in it.


Next we have Keller's Mill. Built in 1873 at a cost of $2075, it is 72 feet long and was rebuilt in 1891after being swept away in a flood. It stayed there until 2006 when it was disassembled and moved reassembled and reopened in December 2010. Keller's Mill is the only covered bridge in Lancaster county not painted the traditional red.


Finally, for now, we have Erb's Mill Covered Bridge. Built in 1849, while thousands of people were heading to California in search of gold, at a cost of $700. Never having received any major flood damage it was rebuilt in 1887 at a cost of $1744. The bridge is just under 70 feet long and while never having been damaged by flooding it has had flood waters reach the floorboards several times.

There are quite few more we are planning to visit in the next few months, wife wants to see some in the fall when the leaves change color. Enjoy, Jeff

 

[catahoula]

Sweet pics! I need to make a trip up there.

 

[PB's-12JKU]

I found this one in The White Mountains (New Hampshire) while my wife and I explored the New England area for 2 weeks.

 

[Gadget]

Very nice and it looks like the leaves are starting to change colors.

 

[Petthefish]

took this one a few years back

 

[xkid]

In New Brunswick, by the Bay of Fundy.

 

[Gadget]

Got out a couple weeks ago on another search, not as productive but still fun. Due to getting a late start we only had time to find 2 before dark, actually only found one, the second one was just a regular bridge. After some google earth searching I found the second one in a different location, apparently the map was wrong. We'll get that one and the other 2 next time.

This one is called Jackson Mill Bridge, built in 1878 at a cost of $2410, supposedly the only one in Pa that was not built perpendicular to the water crossing due to a mill on one side and rocks on the other.

Destroyed in 1985 by a flood, when it was rebuilt that same year it was raised 3 ft to protect it from future flooding. The rebuild cost the county $75,000, it was rehabilitated in 2005.

 

[Trail JK]

Cool thread! :thumb: all of the pictures look awesome!

 

[dcbjk]

Wow that's amazing lot of history in those bridges they make awesome pictures
Great thread