Johnson's Mill Covered Bridge 38-36-35x

Photos

HABS

BH Photo #314023

Map

Maps and Databases

Description

The covered bridge is a typical example of the burr arch-truss heavy timber covered bridge for short and medium spans. The type was common in Pennsylvania during the 19th century. This particular bridge was built in 1866 by Elias McClellen. The 64' span carries an unmarked county road across Little Chickie's Creek in Rapho and Hempfield Townships. The bridge is in an excellent state of preservation. This was one of McClellen's earliest bridges he constructed many similar to this between 1864-96...

-- Historic American Buildings Survey

Facts

Overview: Lost Burr arch-truss bridge over Chiques Creek on Marietta Avenue
Location: Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
Status: Destroyed by hurricane
History: Built 1854; Reconstructed 1867; Destroyed by Hurricane Agnes June 22, 1972
Builders: - Elias McMellen (reconstruction)
- William Dietrich (original builder)
Design: Burr arch-truss
Dimensions: Total length: 64.0 ft.
Also called: Henry Musselman's Bridge
Approximate latitude, longitude: +40.06306, -76.51546 (decimal degrees)
40°03'47" N, 76°30'56" W (degrees°minutes'seconds")
Approximate UTM coordinates: 18/370756/4435856 (zone/easting/northing)
Quadrangle map:: Columbia West
Inventory numbers: WGCB 38-36-35x (World Guide to Covered Bridges number)
BH 65578 (Bridgehunter.com ID)

Update Log

April 11, 2022: New photo from Stewart Edwin Beitler
January 20, 2015: Updated by Will Truax: Corrected HABS based error in builders name
January 18, 2015: Added by Dave King

Sources

Dave King - DKinghawkfan [at] hotmail [dot] com
books.google.com - Bottom photo is of bridge
HABS PA-1173 - Johnson's Mill Bridge, Chickie's Creek (East Donegal-Rapho Township), Chickies, Lancaster County, PA
Will Truax - Bridgewright [at] gmail [dot] com
Stewart Edwin Beitler - stubear0430 [at] gmail [dot] com