Neff's Mill Covered Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Neff's Mill Covered Bridge |
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| Coordinates | 39°58′44″N 76°13′33″W / 39.9788°N 76.2258°W |
| Locale | Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States |
| Official name | Pequea #7 Bridge |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | single span, double Burr arch truss |
| Total length | 102 feet (31.1 m) |
| History | |
| Constructed by | Built by Christian Brackbill Rebuilt by James C. Carpenter |
| Construction begin | 1824, rebuilt in 1875 |
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The Neff's Mill Covered Bridge is a special kind of bridge called a covered bridge. It crosses the Pequea Creek in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States. It's also known as the Bowman's Mill Covered Bridge or officially as the Pequea #7 Bridge.
This bridge is made of wood and has a unique design called a Burr arch truss. It also has strong steel rods to help hold it up. The floor of the bridge is made from oak wood. The bridge is painted red, which is a common color for covered bridges in Lancaster County. The paths leading up to the bridge are painted white. Many people say it's the narrowest covered bridge in the whole county!
The Neff's Mill Covered Bridge is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's an important historical landmark. You can find it on Penn Grant Road, about 1.25 miles east of U.S. Route 222.
Bridge History
Building the Bridge
The original covered bridge was built in 1824 by a person named Christian Brackbill. At that time, it was known as the Bowman's Mill Covered Bridge. We don't know exactly how much it cost to build back then.
Rebuilding the Bridge
Later, in 1875, the bridge needed to be rebuilt. James C. Carpenter was the builder who took on this job. He rebuilt the bridge for $1,860. This was a lot of money back then!
Bridge Size
Here are some interesting facts about the size of the Neff's Mill Covered Bridge:
- Length: The main part of the bridge that spans the creek is 90 feet (about 27.4 meters) long. The total length of the bridge is 102 feet (about 31.1 meters).
- Width: The clear space inside the bridge where cars drive is 11 feet 7 inches (about 3.5 meters) wide. The total width of the bridge is 15 feet (about 4.6 meters).
- Overhead Clearance: The height inside the bridge is 11 feet (about 3.4 meters). This is how much space there is from the road to the ceiling.
- Under Clearance: 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 wide view of the side of the bridge
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A three-quarters view of the bridge
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One of the bridge's entrances
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The inside of the bridge
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A closer look at the Burr arch truss design
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The window and painted sign inside the bridge
