Sachs Covered Bridge 38-01-01

Photos 

Photo taken by Jodi Christman on April 11, 2011

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BH Photo #197194

Map 

Street View 

Description 

The Sachs Covered Bridge was built around 1854 at a cost of $1,544. On July 1, 1863, the bridge was crossed by the two brigades of the I Corps of the Union Army heading towards Gettysburg. The III Corps also crossed the bridge heading to the Black Horse Tavern. Four days later, the majority of General Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia retreated over the bridge after the Union victory in the Battle of Gettysburg.

The bridge was designated Pennsylvania's "most historic bridge" in 1938 by the predecessor of the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, the Department of Highways. The Cumberland Township officials voted to close the bridge to vehicular traffic, while leaving it open to pedestrians, on May 9, 1968. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on August 25, 1980.

On June 19, 1996, a flash flood knocked the bridge from one of its abutments and it incurred substantial damage; an iron bridge on the Marsh Creek was also heavily damaged and another destroyed. A $500,000 restoration on the bridge was already in progress before the flood; an additional $100,000 was raised to repair the damage incurred. The bridge was rededicated on July 21, 1997.

The Sachs Covered Bridge is a Town truss covered bridge. The truss design was developed by Ithiel Town of Connecticut and consists of wooden beams "cris-crossed" to form a lattice.[3] The bridge was one of few remaining Town truss bridges in Pennsylvania.[2] The bridge is 100 feet (30 m) long and 15 feet 4 inches (4.67 m) wide.

SOURCE: http://www.angelfire.com/pa4/gettysburg/sachs.html Portions of the Confederate Army used the bridge to cross Marsh Creek during the July 3rd and July 4th withdrawal from Gettysburg. During the War, the bridge was known as Sauck's Bridge. Sach's Bridge is now in a park and is open for foot traffic only. According to Evans and Evans, it was used for troop movements during the Civil War, and it is nearby both the Gettysburg battlefield monument and the Eisenhower home.

The Bridge is a favorite spot for ghost hunters,late nighters,re-enactors and those who like to fish. It is off park service property and is open all night.

Facts 

Overview

Through truss bridge over Marsh Creek on Waterworks Road

Location

Adams County, Pennsylvania

History

Built in 1852 by David S. Stoner. On June 19, 1996, a flash flood knocked the bridge from one of its abutments. It was restored: over 75% of its original structure was used. It was reconstructed in 1996. The bridge was rededicated on July 21, 1997

Builder

- David Stoner

Design

Town truss covered bridge; horizontal clapboard siding, sheet metal roof, wide diagonal floor planks

Dimensions

Total length: 101.2 ft.
Deck width: 15.8 ft.

Recognition

Posted to the National Register of Historic Places on August 25, 1980

Also called

Sauck's Covered Bridge
Waterworks Covered Bridge
Sauches Covered Bridge

Approximate latitude, longitude

+39.79740, -77.27616   (decimal degrees)
39°47'51" N, 77°16'34" W   (degrees°minutes'seconds")

Approximate UTM coordinates

18/305125/4407749 (zone/easting/northing)

Quadrangle map:

Fairfield

Inventory numbers

NRHP 80003395 (National Register of Historic Places reference number)
BH 47387 (Bridgehunter.com ID)

Categories 

Update Log 

• January 8, 2022: New photo from Mike Goff
• October 25, 2020: Updated by Roger Deschner: Added category "Haunted"
• March 1, 2014: Updated by Dave King: Imported photo & added street view
• June 4, 2011: Updated by Jodi Christman: added more detail on bridge design and tweaked dimensions
• April 11, 2011: New photos from Jodi Christman
• December 31, 2010: New photo from Daniel McFarland
• December 25, 2010: Added by Jodi Christman

Sources 

• Jodi Christman - masterofchaos [at] outlook [dot] com
• Daniel McFarland
• Wikipedia
• Dave King - DKinghawkfan [at] hotmail [dot] com
• Mike Goff - michael [dot] goff [at] hotmail [dot] com

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