Mercer's Mill Covered Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mercer's Mill Covered Bridge |
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| Coordinates | 39°55′53″N 75°58′53″W / 39.9315°N 75.9815°W |
| Locale | Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States |
| Other name(s) | East Octoraro #2 Bridge |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | single span, single Burr arch truss |
| Total length | 80 feet (24.4 m) |
| History | |
| Constructed by | B. J. Carter |
| Construction begin | 1880 |
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The Mercer's Mill Covered Bridge is a special kind of bridge that has walls and a roof, just like a house! It is also known as the Mercer's Ford Covered Bridge. This historic bridge crosses the East Branch of the Octoraro Creek. It sits right on the edge between Lancaster County and Chester County in Pennsylvania, United States.
This bridge is officially called the East Octoraro #2 Bridge. It is owned and cared for by Lancaster County. The Mercer's Mill Covered Bridge has a unique design. It uses a single span of wooden arches called a Burr arch truss. It also has strong steel rods to help hold it up. The floor of the bridge is made from sturdy oak wood.
You can easily spot this bridge because it's painted red, which is a common color for covered bridges in Lancaster County. Both the inside and outside are red. The roads leading up to the bridge are painted white. The bridge also has one window on just one side.
The Mercer's Mill Covered Bridge is a very important historical site. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. This means it's recognized as a special place worth protecting. You can find the bridge in Sadsbury Township. It's about 0.5 miles (0.8 km) south of Christiana.
Building the Bridge
The Mercer's Mill Covered Bridge was built a long time ago in 1880. A builder named B. J. Carter was in charge of its construction. This bridge was one of several covered bridges built around that time. Many bridges were built along the border between Lancaster and Chester counties. Another example is the Pine Grove Covered Bridge, which was built a few years later in 1884.
Bridge Size and Features
The Mercer's Mill Covered Bridge has specific measurements that make it unique:
- Length: The bridge stretches for 80 feet (about 24.4 meters) across the creek.
- Width: It is 15 feet 4 inches (about 4.7 meters) wide.
- Overhead Clearance: If you drive through it, you have 11 feet 6 inches (about 3.5 meters) of space above your vehicle.
- Underclearance: The space from the bottom of the bridge to the water below is 13 feet 6 inches (about 4.1 meters).
Gallery
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A view of the side of the Mercer's Mill Covered Bridge.
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The approach to the bridge from the Lancaster County side.
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A closer look at the single window on the bridge.
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The inside of the covered bridge, showing its wooden structure.
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Another view from inside the bridge.
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Looking at the underside of the bridge.
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An aerial view of the bridge and its surroundings.
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Another view of the bridge from above.
