Mongul Bridge

Photos 

Mongul Bridge and Mill

Bridge built in 1840. Photo taken in 1930. Mill is on right-hand side (west side) built in 1853.

Submission to The News-Chronical Weekend Extra

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BH Photo #198404

Map 

Brief history 

Built by Silas Harry in 1840 this bridge shows similar features from many of his bridges built in this area—masonry, humpback, single-lane with low masonry guard walls on each side. This two arch bridge crosses the Conodoguinet Creek on Roxbury Road which connects Shippensburg to Roxbury. It was replaced in 1964 for safety reasons by a two-lane concrete beam bridge which is still in existence.

In 1853 a grist mill was built by William G. McLellan near the bridge and the population grew to about 90 persons in the village up the hill. This area was called Fairview because of the panoramic view one has at top of the hill. However, the post office needed it to be called something else to avoid confusion as Fairview and West Fairview were already in existence. Legend has it that the name Mongul was pulled out of a hat full of names by a postal worker.

The bridge earned a nickname as Buzzard's Glory in the late 1880s as William McLellan would drive his stick wagon through Orrstown to his mill and John Orr (son of Orrstown's founding father) would remark, "There goes that old buzzard down to his glory." The name stuck for a short time, but locals now refer to the bridge as Mongul Bridge.

SOURCE: Shippensburg area newspaper article "Do You Remember" The News-Chronicle Weekend Extra Feb. 25, 2011

Facts 

Overview

Lost Closed-spandrel arch bridge over Conodoguinet Creek on Sr 4016 (Roxbury Road)

Location

Franklin County, Pennsylvania

Status

Replaced by new bridge

History

Built in 1840 before the village Mongul even existed, Replaced 1964

Builder

- Silas Harry

Design

Single lane, 2 span, stone bridge

Dimensions

Total length: 187.0 ft.
Deck width: 40.0 ft.

Also called

Conodoguinet Creek Bridge
Buzzard's Glory

Approximate latitude, longitude

+40.07861, -77.59611   (decimal degrees)
40°04'43" N, 77°35'46" W   (degrees°minutes'seconds")

Approximate UTM coordinates

18/278637/4439712 (zone/easting/northing)

Quadrangle map:

Shippensburg

Inventory number

BH 48724 (Bridgehunter.com ID)

Categories 

Update Log 

• December 13, 2011: Photo imported by Jodi Christman
• December 11, 2011: Photo imported by Jodi Christman
• May 1, 2011: Essay added by Jodi Christman

Sources 

• Jodi Christman - masterofchaos [at] outlook [dot] com

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